TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Energy of Light
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Engineering Your Own Spectrograph
Students use simple materials to design an open spectrograph so they can calculate the angle light is bent when it passes through a holographic diffraction grating. A holographic diffraction grating acts like a prism, showing the visual...
NASA
Nasa: The Space Place: Why Is the Sky Blue?
Learn about colors of light by exploring how prisms work. Discover the different colors of the spectrum and how the visible light is what we see.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Wave Particle Duality
The dualistic nature of light is discussed. The photoelectric effect and the Davisson-Germer experiment are contrasted as empirical evidence supporting each of the two views - particle and wave - of the nature of light. The photoelectric...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Chemistry Simulation: Neon Lights
[Free Registration/Login Required] Neon lights are a type of discharge tube. Observe how electrons create colored light in a hydrogen gas discharge tube. Can you figure out why hydrogen's emission spectrum contains more than one color of...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves/color: Electromagnetic and Visible Spectra
This illustrated physics tutorial explains the electromagnetic and visible spectra of light using illustrated examples and interactive practice problems.
Other
Vmc: What Is Light?
What is light? A detailed examination of what creates light, light spectrums, scientists' discoveries, and colored graphics. Appropriate for the older student or adult researcher.
Space Telescope Science Institute
Amazing Space: Star Light, Star Bright
This online exploration provides an opportunity to identify the different properties of waves and the relationship that exists between energy, wavelength, and frequency. Correlate images from the Hubble Telescope to the wavelength,...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Electromagnetic Spectrum: Frontline
This video segment adapted from FRONTLINE introduces the electromagnetic spectrum and explains how the various types of electromagnetic waves are distinguished by the amount of energy each wave carries.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Electromagnetic Waves: The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Photons
An article that discusses the coupling of an electric field with a magnetic field to create electromagnetic waves. Article also discusses how different types of electromagnetic waves have different wavelengths which forms the...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Spectral Lines
Several pages from an excellent site which describe the science of spectroscopy. The unique atomic emission (and absorption) line spectrum of elements are illustrated and explained. Includes a Java applet depicting the quantum energy...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Exploring Light: Absorb, Reflect, Transmit or Refract?
In a hands-on way, students explore light's properties of absorption, reflection, transmission and refraction through various experimental stations within the classroom. To understand absorption, reflection and transmission, they shine...
Other
Tooter4kids: Light and Color
You'll find a wealth of resources at this site dedicated to color! Easy-to-read discussions can be found on topics ranging from the science of light to complementary colors and the color wheel. All special terms are highlighted and...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Em Spectrum: Waves of Energy
Students are introduced to the electromagnetic spectrum through this group research activity. Each group investigates a different wavelength range within the em spectrum and reports back to class. Discussion ideas also included.
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Nasa Online: Light: Scattering Light
An introduction to the concept of the visible light spectrum provided in an animated format.
My Science Site
Optics: Energy and Control [Pdf]
A very comprehensive unit including topics such as light and its source, visible sources of light, transparency of objects and much more. Also offers a resource list, blackline masters, and expectation list, expectation summary and a...
NASA
Nasa: Mission: Science: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Infrared Waves
Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet.
NASA
Nasa: Spitzer Science Center: Code of Faraway Worlds
Under the heading, "Cracking the Code of Faraway Worlds" this site explores the uses of spectrum (and spectrograph, spectra) in planetary study. In addition to an image, a description of spectrum and its uses in space science is provided.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Views of the Universe: Telescopes, Starlight, Electromagnetic Spectrum
Students visit the websites of various world-renowned telescopes, view images of the universe, read how the images are made, and determine reasons for the different locations, different wavelengths of light detected, and general design...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Designing a Spectroscopy Mission
Students find and calculate the angle that light is transmitted through a holographic diffraction grating using trigonometry. After finding this angle, student teams design and build their own spectrographs, researching and designing a...
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Light
What is light? Illustrated discussion of the speed of light, how we see colors, and how light helps us.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab: Micro Worlds Project: Advanced Light Source
A discussion of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) facility and its use in material analysis and medicine.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Cat Scans: Projecting Shadows
This page and the three pages which follow discuss how X-ray technology can be used to produce an image of the human body. Discussion is understandable and highly intriguing. Several interactive animations allow the visitor to explore...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Absorption of Radiant Energy by Different Colors
In this science fair project, use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of differently colored paper exposed to sunlight, and calculate energy emission using the Stefan-Boltzmann equation. Find discussion questions, a list...