Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: How Can We Measure the Wavelength of Light Emitted From Stars?
This activity is designed for students to apply their knowledge of mathematics and physics to "real life" situations. Students are presented with the situation that they are on a camping trip and wish to know the wavelength emitted by a...
Space Telescope Science Institute
Amazing Space: Star Light, Star Bright
This online exploration provides an opportunity to identify the different properties of waves and the relationship that exists between energy, wavelength, and frequency. Correlate images from the Hubble Telescope to the wavelength,...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Blue Skies and Red Sunsets
Find out how some wavelengths of light are scattered more than others producing blue skies and red sunsets.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Jewel Box Sun
See the sun like you have never seen it before! Using a specialized telescope, NASA developed images of the sun created from a wide range of wavelengths of light. Each wavelength is represented by a different color making a beautiful...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Diffraction Calculations
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate diffraction of light and the interference patterns that are produced through constructive and destructive interference of the waves. Students...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves and Color: The Path Difference
After looking at a representative two-point source interference pattern with accompanying order numbers, students investigate the rationale behind the numbering system, and develop some mathematical equations that relate the features of...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves/color: Two Point Source Interference Pattern
Students investigate the underlying causes of two-point source interference pattern. They also discover that the spatial separation between the antinodal and nodal lines in the pattern is related to the wavelength of the waves.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves/color: Electromagnetic and Visible Spectra
This illustrated physics tutorial explains the electromagnetic and visible spectra of light using illustrated examples and interactive practice problems.
NASA
Nasa: Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum: Visible Light
Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves we can see. We see these waves as the colors of the rainbow. Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength. When all...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Wavelength and Energy
Students will calculate energy, frequency, or wavelength. After calculating, students graph their data and answer analysis questions.
PBS
Nova Teachers: Einstein Revealed: What's Your Wavelength: Classroom Activity
Investigate the wavelength properties of visible light and the scattering effects of the earth's atmosphere on different wavelengths.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Color Addition
This tutorial on the addition of color to light discusses the primary, complimentary, and secondary colors of light.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Em Spectrum: Waves of Energy
Students are introduced to the electromagnetic spectrum through this group research activity. Each group investigates a different wavelength range within the em spectrum and reports back to class. Discussion ideas also included.
NASA
Rxte Learning Center: Frequency, Wave Length, and Energy Activity
Resource focuses on the relationship between the frequency, wavelength and speed of light. Has a link to an interactive activity relating frequency, wavelength, and energy.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Color
This site from Georgia State University discusses the location of visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum. Includes the wavelength values for various colors of light within the visible light spectrum.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Graphing the Rainbow
Students are introduced to different ways of displaying visual spectra, including colored "barcode" spectra, like those produced by a diffraction grating, and line plots displaying intensity versus color, or wavelength. Students learn...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Sunspots on the Move
The following videos show sunspots using wavelengths of light that the human eye cannot see. Watch sunspots emerging on the earth's surface, a sunspot moving across the earth's surface, and the rotation of the sun as a sunspot evolves...
Science Struck
Science Struck: Versatile Uses of a Spectrophotometer
Explains what spectrophotometry is, the types of spectrophotometers, and what they are used for.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Single Slit Interference
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explains what causes single slit interference of light and how to find the wavelength of a single slit interference pattern using a formula.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Electromagnetic Spectrum
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students learn what an electromagnetic wave is, gain a feel for the main parts of the spectrum, and work on problems involving basic properties of electromagnetic...
NASA
Nasa: Mission: Science: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Infrared Waves
Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: Neutron Stars and Pulsars
Discover what neutron stars and pulsars are and view pictures of them. Includes links to additional resources and lesson plans.