Sun tanning has a bad rap right now. Use a personal ultraviolet monitor to measure the UV index to prevent getting a sunburn. With this science fair project you will create a chart showing the UV ray measurement at different times of the...

How far would you have to travel so that the light of the full sun would provide "daylight" no brighter than twilight on Earth? This project describes a method to verify the inverse square law: how light, sound, electrical signals, and...

Here is a large collection of simple science class activities for understanding the physics of light.

Objects that glow in the dark hold a special place in the imagination of both children and adults. The lights go out at night, but these odd things refuse to disappear. Where does the light come from? Do they work in any climate? In this...

This illustrated essay from the NOVA Web site explains why the atomic structure of a diamond slows down light and produces a sparkle more brilliant than from any other colorless substance.

Ultraviolet light can damage DNA molecules. If a cell's DNA repair mechanisms can't keep up with the damage, mutations are the result. As harmful mutations accumulate, the cell eventually dies. How much ultraviolet light is too much for...

Light is an example of an electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic waves can travel through the vacuum of interstellar space. They do not depend on an external medium-unlike a mechanical wave such as a sound wave which must travel through...

The goal of this project is to measure the effectiveness of different sunscreen products for blocking ultraviolet-A (UVB) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight. This project shows you how to use a UV detector to measure rays of light.

An interactive tool where students can create a model of a greenhouse and use a light sensor to measure the amount of light it receives from a lamp at various times of the day. Temperature is also measured. Data is plotted on graphs,...

In this science fair project, use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of differently colored paper exposed to sunlight, and calculate energy emission using the Stefan-Boltzmann equation. Find discussion questions, a list...

Lesson explores where electricity comes from, how much it costs, and the amount of coal that is used. Students will relate these concepts to how much coal is needed to light their school/classroom for one hour.

This guide focuses on four physical science topics that fascinate children and scientists alike. They are motion, magnets, sound, and light. With your guidance and support, these topics provide children with many opportunities to explore...

In this cooking and food science fair project, the student will determine how light and air can oxidize fat in potato chips and cause the chips to go rancid. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an...

Close your eyes for a moment and think about your favorite cake, pasta, and crusty bread. OK, you can open your eyes now, and please don't drool on your computer. What was the cake you pictured like? Was it light and fluffy? Did you...

A 36-page booklet of activities and experiments for exploring the properties of and nature of light. Includes a section on careers in optics. As this is a Girl Scouts booklet, it was created with girls in mind, but would be equally...

You've probably heard that compact fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient than incandescent bulbs. More of the electricity they use goes into producing light, and less into producing heat than with incandescent bulbs. How much more...

If you sit under a leafy tree on a sunny day, you may notice spots of sunlight on the ground from light passing through spaces between the leaves. Try putting a piece of cardboard on the ground and examining the spots of light on the...

Pinhole cameras are not a thing of the past. Even compared to all of the latest technology, a pinhole camera still gets beautiful results. Find out how this very simple aperture design works to control the way light enters the lens of...

In this experiment, you will measure the speed of light using a microwave oven, some egg white, and a ruler. This short project proves to be an extremely interesting choice for a science lab, with pictures for illustration, and thorough...

In this science fair project, grow a culture of Pilobolus fungus and experiment with its ability to shoot spore sacs at light sources. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...

Can you affect the behavior of moths by using different colored lights to attract them? This extensive science fair project from Science Buddies gives lots of suggestions on how to set up an experiment and variations of that experiment...

This is a great project for someone that is interested in both stargazing and photography. Bright city lights and even the light of the full moon obscure the dimmest stars, which can make identifying constellations more difficult. This...

Some molecules can be either left- or right-"handed." The left- and right-handed molecules have the same number and type of atoms, and their chemical structures look identical, but they are actually mirror images of each other. Many...

Plants need air, water, soil, and light to grow. Students learn about plant growth and development by conducting an experiment that demonstrates the importance of light to plants.