CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Diamond Cut
[Free Registration/Login Required] A simulation investigating why a diamond shines by looking at refraction, reflection, and total internal reflection.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Dispersion
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate the dispersion of light through a prism and solve practice problems involving this phenomenon.
Center of Science and Industry
Cosi Columbus: Bent Toward Science Refraction
Learn about refraction in this hands-on science experiment. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of what happens when light moves from one material to another.
Kidport
Kidport: Light
Did you know that light is a form of energy and always travels in a straight line? Discover some more interesting facts about light.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Total Internal Reflection
An investigation into the total internal reflection of light, using a laser pointer. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening, a discussion of Snell's Law, and links to additional information.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Refractive Telescopes
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department gives a discussion of the manner in which light is refracted by refractive telescopes. Discusses the Galielean telescope and the astronomical telescope.
Other
Open School Bc: Sound and Light
The Sound and Light interactive investigates these two forms of energy. Students will enjoy exploring how sound and light are created, travel, and can be controlled.
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Overview of Radiation
This site details what radiation is, the physics of radiation, and radiative transfer as it occurs in nature. Content explores the electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic waves, properties of radiation, and solar radiation.
Walter Fendt
Walter Fendt: Refracting Astronomical Telescope
An app for investigating the operation of a refracting telescope. The location of the eyepiece and objective lens can be altered, and the focal point and path of light through the lenses can be observed.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: 3 M Young Scientist Lab: Disappearing Glass
Glass objects seem to disappear when placed in cooking oil.
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.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Reflection and Refraction
Reflection and refraction are explained with an experiment that uses a sheet of paper, cardboard, and other common materials.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Interference in a Ripple Tank
An investigation, using a ripple tank, into how waves behave when they collide with each other. With an explanation of what is observed, and a link to an article on refraction.
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.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Eye Disease and Contact Lenses
Punctate keratitis is an eye disease that results in abrasions on the epithelial cornea. One of the leading causes of the disease is the overuse of contact lenses. A research team is investigating the optical properties of four new types...
University of Maryland
Optics Highlights: The Telescope
Part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of the invention of the telescope. Includes a short biographical sketch and discusses the work of Isaac Newton which focuses on his contribution...
Walter Fendt
Walter Fendt: Apps Zur Physik
This site, in German, offers numerous apps that illustrate common physics principles. Apps are organized into categories: mechanics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, physics of...
Florida State University
Florida State University: Science, Optics & You: Willebrord Snell
Biography of Willebrord Snell (1580-1626), a Dutch mathematician known best for his work in refractive indices.
University of Maryland
Optics Highlights: The Microscope
Part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of the scientific findings and developments which led to the invention and refinement of the microscope. Includes a short biographical sketch and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Helping Students Discover Total Internal Reflection
After students have learned the basic relationship of Snell's Law, they practice applying it to a situation. Then they are given another situation where it doesn't work, which turns out to be one in which total internal reflection occurs.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors Case B
Ray diagrams are useful tools for determining the location of an image as produced by a concave mirror. Of all the rays which emanate from the top of the object arrow and are incident to the mirror, there are two rays whose behavior at...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors Case D
Ray diagrams are useful tools for determining the location of an image as produced by a concave mirror. Of all the rays which emanate from the top of the object arrow and are incident to the mirror, there are two rays whose behavior at...
Ducksters
Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Light
Kids learn about the science of light. Energy made of waves and particles called photons traveling at the top speed in the universe. What is refraction? The difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Dispersion
The phenomenon of light dispersion is explained with a formula and a practice form for calculating Abbe's number.