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This Oil Spot Photometer activity also includes:
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Are these two light sources the same? Groups use a white card and a little cooking oil to create a photometer that allows for the comparison of two lights. The Inverse Square Law provides a way to calculate the actual difference in intensity of the lights.
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NGSS:
Adaptable
Concepts
Instructional Ideas
- Take advantage of the opportunity to use the activity as an introduction to the Inverse Square Law
- Use the device to compare the difference between a new bulb and an old bulb
Classroom Considerations
- Position the device so that it does not get more ambient light on one side than another
Pros
- Provides a mathematical explanation of the relationship between the distances
- The video provides examples of what you should see along with directions on how to set up the activity
Cons
- The subscripts in the mathematical formula do not show up as subscripts