Interactive
Other

Ntnu Virtual Physics Lab: Thick Lens Java Applet

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Refraction Extravaganza!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders learn how light waves bend differently in different mediums.
Website
My Science Site

B J Mst: Behaviour of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explores light reflection and refraction by providing colorful illustrations and examples.
Lesson Plan
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Super Gelatin

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students measure the angles of refraction of laser light traveling through gelatin, then plot their data to calculate the gelatin's index of refraction.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Com Padre: The Magic of Optics: Now You See It, Now You Don't

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson demonstrating the concept of refraction. It uses a highly engaging 'magic' trick where a smashed glass tube is seemingly put back together.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Disappearing Glass Rods

For Students 9th - 10th
In this activity, you will make a glass object disappear by eliminating the reflection from and the refraction by the glass object.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Needing Illumination: Investigating Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This is the first instructional activity of this unit to introduce light. In this instructional activity, students learn the five words that describe how light interacts with objects: "transparent," "translucent," "opaque," "reflection"...
Interactive
Other

Center for Game Science: Refraction

For Students 3rd - 8th
Use your knowledge of fractions, to save animals who have gotten stuck in space. Game practices the following concepts: equal partitioning, addition, multiplication, mixed numbers, improper fractions, and common denominators. Teacher can...
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.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Trb 6:6: Activity 4 Lemon Light

For Teachers 6th - 8th
An exploration of light refraction using lemon gelatin.
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.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Make Money Appear Before Your Eyes

For Students 3rd - 8th
A simple experiment that clearly demonstrates how light bends when it passes through water. Accompanied by a good explanation of what's happening, and a link to an article on refraction.
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.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Converging Lenses

For Students 9th - 10th
An illustrated tutorial which takes students step-by-step through the process of drawing ray diagrams.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Ejs Reflection and Refraction Between Taut Strings Model

For Students 9th - 10th
In this simulation, two strings with different densities are held tautly as a wave pulses along them. Variables can be changed to alter the relative densities of the strings, as well as the type of wave pulse.
PPT
John Wiley & Sons

Wiley: Physical Geography: Animation: Wave Refraction

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief animation that demonstrates the impact of waves on headlands and on bays explaining how waves shape sea arches and beaches.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Anatomy of a Lens

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated diagrams in this tutorial help students understand the properties and functions of lenses.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Image Formation Revisited

For Students 9th - 10th
Students take an in-depth look at the physics behind image formation.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: The Anatomy of the Eye

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to the human eye as it relates to the physics ray model of light and image formation.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Image Formation/detection

For Students 9th - 10th
Students discover the four parts of the eye are the most instrumental in the task of producing images that are discernible by the brain.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Farsightedness/correction

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief introduction to the physics side of farsightedness, and how lenses correct this vision defect.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Nearsightedness/correction

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief introduction to the physics side of nearsightedness, and how lenses correct this vision defect.
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.

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