Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Measuring Density by Bending Light

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe how different materials bend light, and how we can infer the nature of the material based on the amount it bends light rays.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/light

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a large collection of simple science class activities for understanding the physics of light.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: The Angle of Refraction

For Students 9th - 10th
Focusing on the question, "By how much does light refract when it crosses a boundary?" this physics tutorial will allow students the opportunity to explore these concepts of refraction.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Light Absorption, Reflection, & Refraction

For Students 3rd - 7th
A video and a short quiz on the properties of light.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Make That Invisible! Refractive Index Matching

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Refraction of Light and Snell's Law

For Students 9th - 10th
The meaning and cause of refraction--as well as Snell's law of refraction--are discussed. Includes an interactive problem-solving form in which visitors relate angles of refraction to the incident angle and the indices of refraction.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Quantifying Refraction

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students learn the relevant equations for refraction (index of refraction and Snell's law) and how to use them to predict the behavior of light waves in specified scenarios.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What Does Light See?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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...
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Ology: See the Light

For Students 3rd - 8th
Reflection, refraction, and the colors that make up white light is explored through lab activities after reading a brief background about light energy.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Exploring Science of Light: Intermediate Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of intermediate experiments, for students aged ten and up, for exploring the magnification, reflection, and refraction of light.
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: See the Light

For Students 3rd - 8th
Take a look at light with these three easy experiments
Website
Other

Propagation of Light Using Geometry

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of Christian Huygens' contribution to wave optics, and particularly to our understanding of the reflection and refraction of light. Excellent diagrams and a geometric proof on why the law of reflection is mathematically...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Needing Illumination: Investigating Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This is the first lesson of this unit to introduce light. In this lesson, students learn the five words that describe how light interacts with objects: "transparent," "translucent," "opaque," "reflection" and "refraction."
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Observing Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment adapted from Shedding Light on Science illustrates how light changes speed, and thus direction, in a process known as refraction. Includes background reading and discussion questions. [2:05]
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Bending Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Manipulate variables and measure angles as light is refracted in this interactive simulation.
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Wavelike Behaviors of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
How light waves demonstrate their wave nature by reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Bending Light

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Handout
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Light Waves and Color

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Physics: Light I: Particle or Wave

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Website
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota: Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Refraction

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] 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.
Handout
Other

Gcse: Refraction

For Students 9th - 10th
Informational site contains a mini tutorial on refraction as well as provides colorful illustrations to aide in learning.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: How Does Light Travel Through Space and Other Media?

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed discussion of the nature of light, how it can travel through a vacuum, and how the speed of light is affected when light travels through a medium.
eBook
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Refraction and Light Bending

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from Khan Academy provides information about refraction and light bending. This information is intended for the Class 12 Physics Course (India).

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