University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Bending Light
Manipulate variables and measure angles as light is refracted in this interactive simulation.
Other
Australian Government: Energy and Change: Light What Is Refraction?
Present eight different activities that can be set up as stations for students to investigate light refraction.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Wavelike Behaviors of Light
How light waves demonstrate their wave nature by reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Bending Light
Explore bending of light between two media with different indices of refraction. See how changing from air to water to glass changes the bending angle. Play with prisms of different shapes and make rainbows.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/light
Here is a large collection of simple science class activities for understanding the physics of light.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves and Color
The behavior of light waves is introduced and discussed. Also, polarization, color, diffraction, and interference are introduced and discussed thoroughly as supporting evidence of the wave nature of light.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Physics: Light I: Particle or Wave
Instructional module focusing on light. Discussion includes historical development of particle versus wave theories and the scientific studies leading to the understanding of light waves today. Site also includes an interactive practice...
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota: Refraction of Light
This page is a continuation of a tutorial about light reflection and refraction. It contains a diagram and suggestions on how to derive Snell's Law, which governs the refraction of light in a medium. For background to this derivation,...
Other
Gcse: Refraction
Informational site contains a mini tutorial on refraction as well as provides colorful illustrations to aide in learning.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Stations of Light
Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. While learning how a...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light
Six complete lessons on refraction and the ray model of light. Tutorials include informational text, interactive activities, animations, and quick, interactive comprehension checks along the way.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Make That Invisible! Refractive Index Matching
Students determine the refractive index of a liquid with a simple technique using a semi-circular hollow block. Then they predict the refractive index of a material (a Pyrex glass tube) by matching it with the known refractive index of a...
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Exploring Light: Absorb, Reflect, Transmit or Refract?
In a hands-on way, students explore light's properties of absorption, reflection, transmission and refraction through various experimental stations within the classroom. To understand absorption, reflection and transmission, they shine...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Index of Refraction
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this module, discover and solve problems involving the index of refraction, and investigate problems involving Snell's Law.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Ology: See the Light
Reflection, refraction, and the colors that make up white light is explored through lab activities after reading a brief background about light energy.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Exploring Science of Light: Intermediate Activities
A collection of intermediate experiments, for students aged ten and up, for exploring the magnification, reflection, and refraction of light.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Science: Light and Optics
Students will investigate the properties of light waves. They will learn about the different types of electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves, and investigate the phenomena of reflection, refraction, interference, and diffraction.
Utah State Office of Education
Utah Science: Properties and Behaviors of Heat, Light and Sound
How can scientists lump heat, light and sound together when investigating properties and behaviors? This learning module will address that question through a series of activities.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Light Properties
Students learn about the basic properties of light and how light interacts with objects. They are introduced to the additive and subtractive color systems, and the phenomena of refraction. Students further explore the differences between...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: See the Light
Take a look at light with these three easy experiments
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Refraction of Light
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses refraction of light in matter and how light changes its speed and angle of refraction according to the type of medium it is travelling through.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Boundary Behavior
In this physics tutorial, focus on the refraction of light in great detail. Explore the conceptual and mathematical principles governing the bending of waves as they cross the boundary between two media.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Refraction: Light Entering Water
[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.