Rice University
College Physics for AP® Courses
Take a look at an organized physics course. The 34-section electronic textbook covers material in AP® Physics 1 and 2. Teachers use the text to supplement lectures and have the class work through the labs. Each section contains...
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Ghost Crystals - Light & Water
Woo, ghost crystals, just in time for Halloween! Young scientists experiment with light and water as they make and observe ghost crystals. The lesson does not include the process for making the crystals, but provides a web link where a...
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Fish Tank Optics: Learning How Light Travels
Learners examine light waves and see how they travel. They explain that light moves in waves, which can bounce off of or go through materials. They use a flashlight to shine on a variety of objects.
Jefferson Lab
Optics: Mirrors and Lenses
Did you see that or did I imagine it? Optical illusions are often created with mirrors and lenses, and here is a presentation that covers many different types of mirrors and lenses and how they work. Flat, concave, and convex mirrors, as...
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Waves
An incredibly colorful PowerPoint presents all the facts and definitions about waves that you could need for beginning physical scientists. There are several useful links to online animations of wave action. This may have been produced...
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Light
Fifth graders sit in their seats with the lights on and then the teacher turns off the lights. After their eyes have adjusted, they vote on what colors of construction paper are being held up. The lights are then turned back on and...
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How Light Moves
Students study the movement of light. In this light lesson, students work in groups to participate in a light and shadow walk around their neighborhood. Students brainstorm rules for light movement and watch videos about light travel,...
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Fall 2003 Midterm Exam #3
Let there be light! When your physics learners take this midterm exam, light will be their focus. They will show what they know about electromagnetic waves, interference, refraction, reflection, lenses, prisms, and more! The test is...
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Physics Midterm Exam #3 - Electromagnetic Radiation
True-false and multiple-choice questions are posed in Part A of this exam, covering the topic of electromagnetic radiation. In Part B, problems relating to refraction must be solved. This is a well-rounded exam that will help you...
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Waves Worksheet
In this light waves worksheet, students complete 7 short answer questions where they analyze and record findings about the properties of light waves.
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(S-4) The Many Colors of Sunlight
Students observe and explore the characteristics of light.
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Reflecting Light
Students are introduced to the reflective properties of light and use mirrors to make light from a source reflect onto a specific target. They take turns and record the amount of time it took to correctly reflect the light.
Discovery Education
It's Getting Hot in Here
Class members engage in a STEM experiment and investigate how materials affect heating in a house by creating models of houses and using different top surface materials. They record the temperature inside the models and consider what the...
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Physical Optics: The Wave Nature of Light
Students are introduced to the wave nature of light. In groups, they discuss Young's experiment and how diffraction and interference demonstrate the wave nature of light. Using examples, they show constructive and destructive...
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I'll Build You A Rainbow
Sixth graders conduct a variety of experiments to explore types of light and the concept of refraction. They observe objects in water, use water and prisms to create rainbows and combine light filtered through colored cellophane to...
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Sky Show
Middle schoolers participate in a discussion of the sky and colors. They watch a demonstration of how colors can change. They examine the issue of if weather should be a part of their coursework.
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The Color Spectrum: How Does it Work?
Create models of the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Working in small groups, your class can investigate metric conversions calculations. They will find the length of the waves in nanometers,...
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Applied Science - Physics Lab
Students define reflection and refraction. In this Physics lesson, students compare a variety of items to find properties of reflection or refraction. Students record their findings.
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Light and Vision
Students explore how light affects vision. In this light lesson plan, students construct a shoe box model to represent an eye. Experiments are performed with various light sources. Students draw conclusions about how the eye works as...
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Lighten Up!
Third graders observe light as a form of energy, that it can be reflected/bounced, refracted/bent and absorbed. They explore how different types of light affect our lives as a whole. Songs are researched that involve light (ex. "You...
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Light And Shadows
Fourth graders explore the properties of shadows. In pairs they trace each other's shadows in chalk and re-draw their shadow outlines every three hours, design their own shadow investigation, and complete various worksheets related to...
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Fish Tank Optics- Learning How Light Travels
Students explore light waves, refraction, and reflection. In this light lesson, students observe how light moves by using a flashlight. Students observe refraction and reflection.
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Experiment: Refraction And The Reappearing Coin
In this refraction worksheet, learners perform an experiment by putting a penny in a bowl, walking off and turning back around to see if they can still see the penny or not.
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Fluorescence
Here are some instructions for leading learners through a hands-on activity for investigating ultraviolet radiation. First, introduce them to light and refraction. Then introduce them to the electromagnetic spectrum. Finally, give...