TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bubbles and Biosensors
Students learn that color swirls on the bubble surfaces are caused by refraction. Then they apply this theory to thin films in general, including porous films used in biosensors, listing factors that could change the color that become...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Tell Me the Odds (Of Cancer)
A seven-lesson unit where students learn the concepts of refraction and interference in order to solve this engineering challenge: In 2013, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy, not because she had been diagnosed with...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What Does Light See?
Students are introduced to the concept of refraction. After making sure they understand the concepts of diffraction and interference, students work collaboratively to explain optical phenomena that cannot be accounted for via these two...
Soft Schools
Soft Schools: Eye Cross Section
Test your knowledge of the human eye with this interactive labeling exercise.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Why Do We See Illusions?
Why can't our extremely complex eyes render simple optical illusions? Surprise, surprise- it comes back to the brain, which has only evolved to encounter natural stimuli. Mark Changizi explains how the brain reckons with optical...
Other
The James Clerk Maxwell Foundation
The home page of the The James Clerk Maxwell Foundation, a charitable foundation to commemorate the life and work of James Clerk Maxwell. View Maxwell's house and read about the personal life of this notable scientist.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Mathematics of Sidewalk Illusions
Have you ever come across an oddly stretched image on the sidewalk, only to find that it looks remarkably realistic if you stand in exactly the right spot? These sidewalk illusions employ a technique called anamorphosis- a special case...
Other
National Engineers Week Foundation: Hearing the Light
Students learn how laser communication systems are built by observing how sound can be encoded into, and transmitted by a light beam.
Other
Live Binders: Virtual Eye Dissection
Take a look at a diagram of the eye, know its anatomy, physiology, and virtually dissect it.
Other
All About vision.com: Eye Conditions and Diseases
Many articles with consumer information about lenses, eyewear, eye problems, and unique eye conditions. Vast content and many links to off-site information.
University of Maryland
University of Maryland: Optics, Electromagnetic Waves
This site from the University of Maryland provides part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of how scientists came to believe in the wave nature of light, the idea of an electromagnetic...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Mirrors: Optics Bench Interactive
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.
Other
National Physical Laboratory: The History of Length Measurement
This resource provides historic information on length measurement in the United Kingdom. Click on the topics on the left toolbar of the article to find out more information.
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: James Clerk Maxwell
Research resources for James Maxwell (1831-1879), who did revolutionary work on electricity and magnetism and on the kinetic theory of gases.
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Optogenetics
In this full-color image, a neuron is expressing the light-gated cation channel channelrhodopsin-2 (small green shapes), and is being illuminated by a focused beam of blue light (coming from the top).
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Life Science: 11.48 Eyes
Learn about the structure and function of the human eye.
![Sandlotscience.com: Plans for Missing Corner 3 D Cube [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/411248/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc01njg0lwltaxmzzy5qcgc.jpg?1589993095 "Sandlotscience.com: Plans for Missing Corner 3 D Cube [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Sandlotscience.com: Plans for Missing Corner 3 D Cube [Pdf]
A set of plans from Sandlotscience.com for building a cubic optical illusion in 3-D. Useful for demonstrations and projects.
![Color Reversing Flag [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/411250/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc01njk3ltvrbwdycc5qcgc.jpg?1589993095 "Color Reversing Flag [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Color Reversing Flag [Pdf]
Use this picture to create a color reversing illusion. Great for projects and presentations.
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Augustin Fresnel
A short biographical sketch on the life and work of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827). Comments on a few of his scientific accomplishments.