Unit Plan
University of New South Wales (Australia)

University of New South Wales: Einstein Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Einstein Light highlights the Theory of Special Relativity and related topics. Learn how Galileo, Maxwell, and Einstein contributed to our knowledge of relativity, electricity, magnetism, and time by watching fun, interactive modules.
Website
Other

Is the Speed of Light Constant?

For Students 9th - 10th
Using a question and answer format, this page discusses the question: "Is the Speed of Light Constant?" Discusses some of the history and experiments performed with light and the conclusions drawn from those findings.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and Ray Model of Light: Direction of Bending

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive physics tutorial about refraction, students investigate the topic of the direction of bending of a light wave.
Handout
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Speed of Light

For Students 3rd - 8th
Using an interesting and intriguing format, this page discusses the question of "How does one measure the speed of light." Explanation focuses on Galileo's and Roemer's efforts to obtain a reasonable value. Also discusses Heinrich...
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Optical Density and Light Speed

For Students 9th - 10th
A tutorial page explaining how the speed of light is dependent upon the optical density of the material through which it moves. Optical density is related to the index of refraction; sample values are given.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Using a Laser to Measure the Speed of Light in Jello

For Students 9th - 10th
Think it takes expensive, sophisticated equipment to measure the speed of light? Think again. Outfit yourself with a simple handheld laser pointer, a protractor, and Jell-O, and you're ready to get started.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Measuring the Speed of 'Light' With a Microwave Oven

For Students 9th - 10th
In this experiment, you will measure the speed of light using a microwave oven, some egg white, and a ruler. This short project proves to be an extremely interesting choice for a science lab, with pictures for illustration, and thorough...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Observing Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from Shedding Light on Science illustrates how light changes speed, and thus direction, in a process known as refraction. Includes background reading and discussion questions. [2:05]
Handout
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Ole Roemer and the Speed of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a concise overview of the speed of light and the Ole Roemer, the first man to measure it.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: How Does Light Travel Through Space and Other Media?

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed discussion of the nature of light, how it can travel through a vacuum, and how the speed of light is affected when light travels through a medium.
Unknown Type
Project Britain

Primary Homework Help: Light and Shadows Quiz

For Students 3rd - 8th
This resource provides information about light and shadows. In addition, there is a short quiz that can be taken.
Article
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Diamonds: The Science Behind the Sparkle

For Students 9th - 10th
This illustrated essay from the NOVA Web site explains why the atomic structure of a diamond slows down light and produces a sparkle more brilliant than from any other colorless substance.
Unit Plan
Synopsys

Synopsys: Optics for Kids: What Is Light?

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site provides a short explanation of light, how it travels, and the speed in which it travels. Many other concepts related to optics can be found on this site as well.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Light

For Students K - 1st
What is light? Illustrated discussion of the speed of light, how we see colors, and how light helps us.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Refraction of Light

For Students 4th - 5th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses refraction of light in matter and how light changes its speed and angle of refraction according to the type of medium it is travelling through.
Handout
Symmetry Magazine

Symmetry Magazine: Explain It in 60 Seconds: Cherenkov Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Cherenkov light is explained here as the light emitted when a charged particle travels through matter faster than light would be able to. This would be slower, however, than the maximum speed of light, which occurs in a vacuum. "Explain...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Measuring Speed of Moving Objects With Stroboscopic Photography

For Students 9th - 10th
A strobe light can illuminate an entire room in just tens of microseconds. Inexpensive strobe lights can flash up to 10 or 20 times per second. This project shows you how to use stroboscopic photography to analyze motion.
Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: Breaking the Universal Speed Limit

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes research into whether neutrinos travel faster than the speed of light.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Place: What Is a Light Year?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Brief description of light-years with examples and images.
Handout
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: What Is the Speed of Light?

For Students 3rd - 8th
How fast does light travel? How does its speed change when it travels through different media? Learn how scientists calculate the speed of light and some interesting facts.
Website
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota: Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This page is a continuation of a tutorial about light reflection and refraction. It contains a diagram and suggestions on how to derive Snell's Law, which governs the refraction of light in a medium. For background to this derivation,...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Refraction: Light Entering Water

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Explore how water distorts the location of objects due to the speed at which light travels through different mediums by moving the red point to adjust the angle of the fisherman's line of vision.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Theory of Relativity Light and Time

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the speed of light and time dilation in regards to the theory of relativity in the science of physics. Also how gravity can change the passage of time.
Activity
PBS

Pbs: Nova: Time Travel: Think Like Einstein

For Students 9th - 10th
Addressed with questions about relative speed and the speed of light, students begin to "think like Einstein" while exploring the science behind the mystery of time travel.

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