Scholastic
Study Jams! Light
Let there be light in your classroom with a video that explains that light travels in waves, the electromagnetic spectrum contains seven colors, and the color of an object depends on which light waves it reflects and absorbs. With...
CK-12 Foundation
Light Wave
Do radio waves create light? It's more difficult to understand the things we can't see than those that we can. The simulation compares the relatively small range of visible light to the entire electromagnetic spectrum. It graphs the size...
Physics Classroom
Color Pigments
Objects contain pigments that selectively absorb a wavelength of light, and our eyes only observe a very small range of these wavelengths. Scholars apply these two facts to three different activities. They identify the pigment in an...
Physics Classroom
Spectrum
Scholars relate each of the colors in the spectrum, except indigo, by comparing their frequencies, wavelengths, and energy levels. Then, they compare each section of the electromagnetic spectrum when considering the same three variables.
McGraw Hill
Stellar Spectroscopy Interactive
Stars seem to be a far away mystery... but it turns out we know much more about stars than one would think! An engaging lesson shows learners how to read a light spectrum to determine the temperature and chemical makeup of a star....
CK-12 Foundation
Atomic Colors
Stars are too hot to visit, so how do we know what different stars are made of? An enlightening simulation uses a spectrum graph to show the various electron emission and absorption reactions. Scholars experiment with both helium and...
McGraw Hill
Blackbody Radiation Interactive
Noting the color of a star is equivalent to taking its temperature! A creative lesson describes the connection between a star's temperature and the color it emits. As pupils interact with a simulation, they learn how to connect the...
McGraw Hill
The Bohr Atom
Elements don't have fingers, but they have fingerprints! An interactive simulation gives young scientists the opportunity to study orbital changes of an atom and the corresponding spectrum reading. They realize how each atom has a...
American Museum of Natural History
What Do You Know About the Universe?
The universe is full of a mystic matter people cannot see. Pupils respond to 10 questions about the stuff in the universe. Most of the questions involve the big bang theory and dark matter. Learners find out how astronomers have found...
Curated OER
AC Waveforms
In this AC waveforms learning exercise, students answer ten questions about AC voltage, frequencies of waveforms and they interpret diagrams of AC voltage.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Wavelength
In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Utah's ASPIRE Lab, students will learn how to measure wavelengths and see how wavelength affects the color of the light that we see.
Space Telescope Science Institute
Amazing Space: Star Light, Star Bright
An online exploration where students learn the basics about light and the properties of waves and the electromagnetic spectrum. Students will also learn how to measure wavelength and frequency so they can understand the electromagnetic...
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Light Wave
[Free Registration/Login Required] Are there colors we don't see? This simulation addresses that question by exploring light as an electromagnetic wave. Learn how the electromagnetic wave relates its wavelength and frequency to the...
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 Aviary
Physics Aviary: Radiant Emissions Lab
This lab is designed to allow students to look at the relative proportions of different wavelengths of light that are emitted by stars at different temperatures.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Refraction of Light
Manipulate the incident angle, color of light, wavelength, and medium to see how the refracted angle is affected.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Wavelength Lab
This lab is designed to have students investigate the relationship between the speed of a wave, the frequency of the wave and the wavelength of the wave. Students can vary wave speed and frequency. Each of these should be varied while...
Florida State University
Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Primary Additive Colors
Manipulate the primary color circles of light to see how overlapping the circles affect the colors. An explanation is included.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Color Vision
Make a whole rainbow by mixing red, green, and blue light. Change the wavelength of a monochromatic beam or filter white light. View the light as a solid beam, or see the individual photons.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Models of the Hydrogen Atom
How did scientists figure out the structure of atoms without looking at them? Try out different models by shooting light at the atom. Check how the prediction of the model matches the experimental results.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Blackbody Spectrum
How does the blackbody spectrum of the sun compare to visible light? Learn about the blackbody spectrum of the sun, a light bulb, an oven, and the earth. Adjust the temperature to see the wavelength and intensity of the spectrum change....
Florida State University
Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Primary Subtractive Colors
Manipulate "pigmented" color discs to see how mixing subtractive colors affect the overall color.
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill Higher Education: Johnson Explorations: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is illustrated in this interactive. Begin by looking at a chloroplast and follow the path of electrons throughout. Discover what can affect the rate of photosynthesis by adjusting the light intensity and light wavelength.