High schoolers experiment with a converging lens. They observe the image of an object through a lens. They determine the magnification of the lens.

Students construct a simple spectroscope. They observe the emission spectrum produce by a source of light.

Over 4,700 mineral species descriptions include HTML-linked mineral tables by physical and optical properties of all known valid mineral species.

Several demonstrations shown in a video lecture format, illustrate the theory and applications of lasers and optics.

Students will investigate the properties of light waves. They will learn about the different types of electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves, and investigate the phenomena of reflection, refraction, interference, and diffraction.

Learn and understand geometric optics with this review resource.

This physics department site provides a discussion and explanation of fiber optics and fiber optic imaging.

The FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF) is one of the five national research institutes of the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM). The research at AMOLF is focused on selected areas of atomic,...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What optics are and different types, and how they work and form images.

This physics department site features an indexing page for a variety of pages pertaining to atmospheric optics. Topics include rainbows, halos, auroras, mirages, star twinkling, sunsets, green flashes, coronas, and more. Excellent...

This Nobel website on the life and scientific work of Robert A. Millikan includes a biography, images, and internet resources for further reading and research. Also included are the 1923 "Presentation Speech" which praised Millikan's...

Access hundreds of teacher-tested, practical physics lessons on this well-organized, illustrated site. Find just the right demonstration, attention-grabber, or lab for any physics teaching objective at your fingertips.

Provides a long list of physics formulas for easy reference.

An interactive Java applet which allows the user to investigate the path of light through a lens shape object. The shape of the object, the index of refraction of the material, and the location of the incident rays can be altered.

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...

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 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.

Physiclips thoroughly presents geometrical optics concepts like rays, refraction, Snell's law, total internal reflection, dispersion, mirrors, and lenses with animations and film clips.

Did you ever imagine that you can use light to move a microscopic plastic bead? Explore the forces on the bead or slow time to see the interaction with the laser's electric field. Use the optical tweezers to manipulate a single strand of...

At this site from The Nobel Foundation you can read about the scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907, Albert A. Michelson (1852-1931 CE). Here, you can read a detailed biography which provides information on Michelson's...

Students discover how mirrors affect optics in this module through reading informational text, watching animations, and answering self-checking practice questions.

Several pages with an interesting discussion of the visible light spectrum and atomic absorption and emission line spectrum. Features excellent graphics, thorough and understandable discussion, and many interactive Java applets.

College-level physics course highlighting electromagnetism. This course also includes a wide variety of other physics topics including lightning, electrocardiograms, metal detectors, and atom smashers, to name a few. Course includes a...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students describe and predict image formation as a consequence of refraction through a thin convex lens.