Other
Lighthouses: Lighting the Lights
A description of the early lights used in lighthouses and how these lights evolved into what they are today. Explains the contributions of Fresnel to the development of these lights; discusses the Fresnel orders.
Other
The Disgustoscope
This is a resource to teach optics, while building a modified kaleidoscope that will provide 3-dimensional images.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Mirrors: Optics Bench Interactive
Find out about the physics behind those fun-house mirrors. Students manipulate a virtual optics bench to explore the images formed by mirrors and lenses.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science
This customizable digital textbook covers topics related to fourth-grade science. It is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Tell Me Doc, Will I Get Cancer?
Students are introduced to the challenge called, Tell Me the Odds, discovering a new way to assess a person's risk of breast cancer. Solving this challenge requires knowledge of refraction and the properties of light.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy
Through nine lessons, students are introduced to a range of energy types--electrical, light, sound and thermal-as well as the renewable energy sources of wind, hydro (water) and solar power. Subjects range from understanding that the...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Thin Lens Equation
This is an informative site from Georgia State University. It gives a discussion of the thin lens equation and an illustration of its use in determining the image distance based upon the object distance and the focal length.
Other
United States Master Swimming: Fiber Aquatics
The principle of total internal reflection is discussed in this article. The appearance of objects from inside the water of a swimming pool is compared to the path of light in a fiber optic cable.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Thin Lens Sign Conventions
Have you ever wondered why some people need glasses and others don't? It's because of the way light is focused by the lens in your eye. This lens, like magnifying glasses, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, is considered a thin lens.
Space Telescope Science Institute
Amazing Space: Telescopes From the Ground Up
Students can investigate the historical development of six different telescopes. The technical aspects of different telescopes are also presented.
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Science World: Fresnel, Augustin
This site from ScienceWorld provides a short biographical sketch of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827 CE) and describes his most notable scientific discoveries and contributions. Links are provided throughout for additional information.
Synopsys
Synopsys: A Gentle Intro to Optical Design: Why Is the Sky Blue?
Discusses Rayleigh scattering in plain language and attributes the blueness of the skies to this phenomenon. Discussion of scattering is just one topic of many on this lengthy page of optical topics.
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Science World: Young, Thomas
This site from ScienceWorld provides a very short but factual biographical sketch of Thomas Young (1773-1829 CE) and describes his most notable scientific discoveries and contributions. Links are also provided throughout for additional...
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: How Rainbows Work
Learn how rainbows work by reading this illustrated explanation.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Make Your Own Telescope
At this site students can make their own telescope and see how it works with this experiment. Out of a light, a pair of glasses, a magnifying glass and wax paper.
Healthline Media
Medical News Today: Articles: Eye Health: What Is Astigmatism?
Learn about astigmatism, a type of refractive error where the eye does not bend light properly, thereby causing blurred vision. Also explained are the causes, treatment, and diagnosis of astigmatism.
Other
Weather Photography
Source of information on the subject of weather photography. There are great links, images and tips on equipment to use. For the intermediate to advanced photographer.
Curated OER
Georgia State University: Telephoto Lens
At this site from Georgia State University Physics Department the operation of a telephoto lens is discussed. The refraction of light through the lens is shown and a link to a calculation page is provided.
Curated OER
Georgia State University: Telephoto Lens
At this site from Georgia State University Physics Department the operation of a telephoto lens is discussed. The refraction of light through the lens is shown and a link to a calculation page is provided.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 2
Students will use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Resources included are videos of the lesson in action, a student worksheet, and an...
Cosmo Learning
Cosmo Learning: Applied Science and Technology 210: Electrical Engineering
A collection of video lectures from a course that explores the application of electrical engineering topics. Webpage includes twenty-eight lectures from a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Lectures vary in length and...
Other
All About vision.com: Eye Conditions and Diseases
Many articles with consumer information about lenses, eyewear, eye problems, and unique eye conditions. Vast content and many links to off-site information.
Curated OER
Reekos Mad Scientist Lab: Light Refraction
Here are simple instructions for creating a prism using a glass of water, a small mirror, and a piece of paper.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Water Sphere Lens
A discussion of how to make a magnifying lens exhibit using a water-filled flask and a light bulb. Consists of assembly instructions and a "To do and notice" section. Great for a teacher demonstration or a student project.