Unit Plan
My Science Site

Light and Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information on light as well as links to additional sites on light and optics.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Where Did All the Stars Go?

For Students 3rd - 5th
If you live in a big city or urban area it is hard to see many stars at night. In most urban areas only the most brilliant stars, planets and the moon can be seen. This is because of something called light pollution which is the...
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Denmark: What Are Light and Darkness?

For Students 1st - 3rd
In this module, students learn about the different sources of light, what causes darkness, and about shadows.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Schwarzschild Light Wavefront

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Apply the Schwarzschild metric to the paths light travels when it radiates in every direction near a black hole. Adjust the position of the light source and observe the effective potential of the paths.
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: First Grade Science: How Do I See?

For Students 1st
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explores sources and properties of light and its effect on seeing.
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: North Sea: Why Do We Need Light?

For Students 1st - 3rd
Frederik is doing experiments about light to find out how it helps people to see things.
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Antilles: What Are the Different Forms of Energy?

For Students 5th - 7th
Students will learn about the different types and sources of energy, including heat and light, electrical, potential, and kinetic energy.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Pinhole Magnifier

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore properties of light by making a pinhole magnifier using simple materials and a light source.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Shadows: The Shadow Knows

For Students 9th - 10th
This science experiment helps students understand how the size of a shadow depends on the size of the object casting the shadow as well as the position of the light source and screen.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Light: A Form of Energy You Can See

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars will investigate how light is a form of energy that travels as waves away from the source. The basis for this lesson is taken from the Houghton Mifflin science curriculum. In the lesson experiments, students will predict...
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: General Relativity Schwarzschild

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Visualization that uses the Schwarzschild metric, showing the orbit light travels near a black hole.
Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Compton Effect

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Simulation demonstrating the Compton Effect; how light is scattered off an electron. Adjust the angle of the scattering to see how Compton's equation can be used to predict the angle of the photon that is scattered.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Special Relativity on Rotated Graph Paper Model

For Students 9th - 10th
A representation of Minkowski spacetime diagrams using graph paper that is rotated, showing the world lines of three stationary observers with light clocks.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Simultaneity Spacetime Diagram

For Students 9th - 10th
Manipulate variables in order to observe the effects of relative motion on events such as an explosion and the time at which its light signal reaches a destination.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Sources of Visible Light

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of visible light and what incandescence, luminescence and illumination are and how they occur.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Energy, Light and Sound: Renewable Fuels

For Students 3rd - 5th
A slideshow and a short quiz on the different types of renewable energy sources.
Article
Creative Science Centre

Creative Science Centre: Simple High Temperature Light Bulb Thermometer

For Students 9th - 10th
A very simple electrical resistance thermometer is described that can be built, calibrated and tested in a school laboratory at virtually no cost. With it, flames, focused sunlight and other high temperature sources can be probed. The...
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science

For Students 4th
This customizable digital textbook covers topics related to fourth-grade science. It is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned.
Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Multiple Slit Diffraction Model

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Simulation that shows the diffraction of light through single or multiple slits. Simulation allows modification of the number of slits, slit width, slit separation, and the wavelength.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Gr Kerr Light Program

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using Kerr metric this simulation illustrates the path of light emitted from the equatorial plane near a rotating black hole.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Gr Seeing Program

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using the Schwarzchild metric this simulates the path of light from a black hole also identifying specific time and angle of the light.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Ejs Simultaneity Model

For Students 9th - 10th
A model for examining the simultaneity of two events where the relative velocity and the wave source, either light or sound, can be manipulated.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Gr Kerr Wavefront Program

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using the Kerr metric this simulation illustrates the directions of light emitted from an equatorial plane near a rotating black hole.
eBook
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Gr Kerr Wavefront Program

For Students 9th - 10th
A simulation that uses the Kerr metric to show the distribution of light photon trajectories when near a black hole that rotates. Accompanied by explanatory documentation.