Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Total Internal Reflection

For Students 9th - 10th
This physics department site provides a definition and explanation of the phenomenon of total internal reflection. Includes a diagram and an equation for calculating the critical angle for light approaching a surface.
Website
Other

Propagation of Light Using Geometry

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of Christian Huygens' contribution to wave optics, and particularly to our understanding of the reflection and refraction of light. Excellent diagrams and a geometric proof on why the law of reflection is mathematically...
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Critical Angle

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students can see light reflected and refracted in this demonstration. They will also discover the total internal reflection of light.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Needing Illumination: Investigating Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This is the first lesson of this unit to introduce light. In this lesson, students learn the five words that describe how light interacts with objects: "transparent," "translucent," "opaque," "reflection" and "refraction."
Website
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Light and Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
Rainbows and sunsets are called "atmospheric optics". They can be caused by light being absorbed, reflected, scattered, refracted, or diffracted by particles in the atmosphere. Learn all about different atmospheric optics along with...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light Scavengers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students examine various materials and investigate how they interact with light. Students use five new vocabulary words (translucent, transparent, opaque, reflection and refraction) to describe how light interacts with...
Interactive
Math Science Nucleus

Math/science Nucleus: Light Magic

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This animation discusses light and the properties of light in a storybook format. The animations cover the colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV) along with prisms, light waves, reflection, and refraction.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Energy of Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this introduction to light energy, students learn about reflection and refraction as they learn that light travels in wave form. Through hands-on activities, they see how prisms, magnifying glasses and polarized lenses work. They...
Website
University of Chicago

Telescopes at Yerkes Observatory / Virtual Tour

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the difference between reflective and refractive telescopes and includes a virtual tour of Yerkes Observatory which houses the largest refracting telescope in the world.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Rainbow Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the physics behind Roy G. Biv, and how rainbows are formed by drawing upon our understanding of refraction, internal reflection, and dispersion.
Interactive
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Mirrors: Optics Bench Interactive

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the physics behind those fun-house mirrors. Students manipulate a virtual optics bench to explore the images formed by mirrors and lenses.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Reflection of Light

For Students 4th - 5th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Considers the reflection of light from both smooth and rough surfaces and the law of reflection.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Helping Students Discover Total Internal Reflection

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After students have learned the basic relationship of Snell's Law, they practice applying it to a situation. Then they are given another situation where it doesn't work, which turns out to be one in which total internal reflection occurs.
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Diamond Cut

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A simulation investigating why a diamond shines by looking at refraction, reflection, and total internal reflection.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Geometric Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive unit will help students to understand the basics of geometric optics. Learn what happens when light strikes the boundary between two media as well as the difference between a real and virtual image? Also explore the law...
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Bending Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Manipulate variables and measure angles as light is refracted in this interactive simulation.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Enlightening Explorations, Part Ii

For Teachers 6th
This lesson engages students in learning about light. Studets will describe how light is produced, reflected, refracted, and separated.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Science: Light and Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Ology: See the Light

For Students 3rd - 8th
Reflection, refraction, and the colors that make up white light is explored through lab activities after reading a brief background about light energy.
Unit Plan
University of New South Wales (Australia)

University of New South Wales: School of Physics: Physclips: Geometrical Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
Physiclips thoroughly presents geometrical optics concepts like rays, refraction, Snell's law, total internal reflection, dispersion, mirrors, and lenses with animations and film clips.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: What Is Light?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the characteristics of light and its properties. Students are given examples of reflection, refraction, and lens types. An assessment component is included.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: I'm So Bright! I Wear My Shades Indoors!

For Teachers 6th
This lesson engages students in learning about light through multiple sources. Students will learn how light is produced, reflected, refracted, and separated. Students will communicate their findings through an independent project that...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Wave Properties

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate behaviors of waves, including interference, reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
Activity
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: 3 M Young Scientist Lab: Gelatin Optic Fibers

For Students 3rd - 8th
Strips of gelatin dessert and a laser pointer demonstrate total internal reflection.

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