A series of seven pages that describe how screen displays on laptop computers work using polarized light in a liquid crystal display. Interactive Java applets.

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.

Light! How do we see? What makes light? Find out everything you need to know through the Q&As on this site.

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...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students understand the meaning of polarization and its mechanism and polarization by transmission and reflection.

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...

Through illustrated practice problems and video clips, students learn about polarization of light.

What are the Northern Lights? This brief yet fact filled article explains all the important details including origin, composition, colors and appearance. Photos and maps are included.

Visit this resource to learn about the geography, wild life, plants and people of Polar Continental Shelf in Canada's Arctic. Students can take a quiz to see how much they have learned.

Several short descriptions of demonstrations pertaining to polarization principles. Suitable as a supplement for a teacher lesson plan or as an idea-generator for a student project.

An interactive look at our atmosphere and factors which affect planet Earth. NASA measurements of volcanic eruptions, toxic emissions, aerosols, and wind patterns are all graphically displayed. Basic text plus bold visuals make this...

This activity uses polarized lights to show stress patterns in a clear plastic fork. Students can relate the stresses in plastic to stresses in the bone.

The operation of Polaroid filters on a pair of sunglasses is shown.

Using a question and answer format, this page attempts to answer the question "How much light do sunglasses block?" Explains polarized light and the ability of filters to selectively absorb polarized light.

Discover how polarizing filters can make certain objects more visible to the human eye.

Short descriptions of possible physics demonstrations for illustrating dichroic polarization and the role of Polaroid filters in blocking roadway glare. Suitable as an idea-generator for student projects.

In this introduction to light energy, students learn about reflection and refraction as they learn that light travels in wave form. Through hands-on activities, they see how prisms, magnifying glasses and polarized lenses work. They also...

From an online "book," this particular page describes physics principles related to vision and sight. Keywords are linked to other pages with further information. The role of sunglasses in blocking glare is discussed and explained. A...

A thorough, multipage discussion of color and color television sets that explains how an image is formed on the television using red, green, and blue light. Understandable discussion, excellent graphics, and many interactive Java applets.

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. Includes a short biographical sketch and discusses the work of Thomas Young...

Biography of Etienne-Louis Malus (1775-1812), a famous French mathematician and physicist, best known for his work in double refraction and in polarization.

Young scholars explore color, vision, and two-point source interference. The tutorial consists of lessons and problems to check for understanding.

Why do we see those stunning lights in the northern- and southernmost portions of the night sky? Michael Molina explains every step of the dazzling phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. [4:10]

Students use conductivity meters to measure various salt and water solutions, as indicated by the number of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that illuminate on the meter. Students create calibration curves using known amounts of table salt...