Impressionists used new methods of mixing colors based on contemporary scientific writings about optics. This lesson plan explores the theory of optical color mixing, painting the same subject under different conditions of light, and the...

Student groups use the Java programming language to implement the algorithms for optical character recognition (OCR) that they developed in the associated lesson. The ultimate goal is to produce computer code that recognizes a digit on a...

In this activity, students create posters which explain and illustrate thin film refraction and the factors that influence it. The goal is to explain the experimental results of using an optical biosensor, and prove these results with a...

Students are introduced to the concept of refraction. After making sure they understand the concepts of diffraction and interference, students work collaboratively to explain optical phenomena that cannot be accounted for via these two...

Through this concluding lesson and its associated activity, students experience one valuable and often overlooked skill of successful scientists and engineers- communicating work and ideas. Students create posters depicting their...

The transcript of a talk given on the syndicated radio broadcast titled "The Engines of Our Ingenuity." Interesting account of Robert Hooke. Using a captivating and engaging story line, the article tells of Hooke's many interests in...

Video describes the developments and advancements in the history of the study of optics. [4:17] Includes a short quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.

Learn about and try out a fun optical illustion created by MIT in 2007 that also serves as a vision test. Includes video.

Download this Educators Guide to light, color, and their uses. Choose from different activities using lenses, prisms, hidden messages, periscopes, and kaleidoscopes

Discusses the manner in which light behaves as both wave and particle. This dualistic nature of light is one topic of many on the page.

The principle of total internal reflection is discussed in this article. The appearance of objects from inside the water of a swimming pool is compared to the path of light in a fiber optic cable.

An explanation of what light is and some of its properties.

A simple activity to investigate how light reflects off a flat surface, a convex one, and a concave one. With a link to an article on reflection.

A set of plans from Sandlotscience.com for building a cubic optical illusion in 3-D. Useful for demonstrations and projects.

Several short descriptions and graphics of demonstrations which illustrate principles of interference. Suitable as a supplement for a teacher lesson plan or as an idea-generator for a student project.

Have fun with this optical illusion. Learn about after images with this experiment.

A number of strands of fiber optic cable emit a glowing light at the tips, the effect further enhanced by the black background.

This physics department site explains how prisms work and their purpose in the dispersion of light. Explains the angle of deviation and includes an interactive form in which visitors calculate the angle of deviation and receive immediate...

A collection of several pages explaining the principles which underlie Rayleigh scattering of light.

This physics department site provides links about the diffraction of light. Each page includes thorough explanations and meaningful graphics. Some pages include interactive problem-solving practice sections.

A large collection of visual illusions and anomalous motion illusions. The latter can potentially make a person feel dizzy and should be viewed or shared with caution.

This site from Georgia State University discusses the means by which mirrors and lenses are combined to produce an optical instrument which accomplishes a specific purpose. Good illustrations.

Information about removable computer storage. Includes floppy disk, optical drives, magnetic disk technology, magneto-optical technology, and much more.

Site provides quick facts and figures on the Hubble Space Telescope. Site includes spaceflight statistics, optical capabilities and data statistics and much more.