A detailed discussion of the nature of light, how it can travel through a vacuum, and how the speed of light is affected when light travels through a medium.

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...

In this series of interactive physics tutorials, students will focus on the wavelike nature of light.

Students investigate the underlying causes of two-point source interference pattern. They also discover that the spatial separation between the antinodal and nodal lines in the pattern is related to the wavelength of the waves.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How visible light interacts with matter and classifying matter in terms of light.

Students read a detailed description and explanation of Thomas Young's experiment which played a major role in the general acceptance of the wave theory of light.

Where can we experience the phenomenon that light taking two paths from two locations to the same point in space can undergo constructive and destructive interference? There are several answers to these questions and they will be...

Students examine the findings of Thomas Young's light experiment, which showed that an interference pattern results when light from two sources meets up while traveling through the same medium.

Here is an introduction to the concept of waves and wavelike motion people experience anywhere and everywhere.

After looking at a representative two-point source interference pattern with accompanying order numbers, students investigate the rationale behind the numbering system, and develop some mathematical equations that relate the features of...

A video and a short quiz on the basic concepts and vocabulary for understanding light energy.

Students will use observations and evidence to describe that objects can only be seen if they are illuminated by an external light source or give off their own light. Media is used to supplement student observations and encourage...

This resource provides information about light and shadows. In addition, there is a short quiz that can be taken.

Cool science site tests your knowledge of light by exploring the question: "How do you measure a light wavelength?" Allows users to test themselves as well as provides additional activities on wavelength and amplitude.

Students learn how the eye responds to visible light, and how that function ultimately allows us to see.

Through illustrated practice problems and video clips, students learn about polarization of light.

In this interactive physics tutorial about refraction, students investigate the topic of the direction of bending of a light wave.

Students investigate an example of interference that provides further evidence in support of the wavelike behavior of light.

A collection of ideas for teaching students about the nature of light. They learn about the history behind theories of light and the contributions of different scientists. Includes lots of experiments to build their understanding of the...

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...

How far would you have to travel so that the light of the full sun would provide "daylight" no brighter than twilight on Earth? This project describes a method to verify the inverse square law: how light, sound, electrical signals, and...

Light travels as transverse waves and can travel through a vacuum. Sound travels as longitudinal waves and needs to travel through a solid, liquid or gas. Read about the properties of light and of sound, and learn the differences between...

Part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of how scientists came to believe in the wave nature of light. Includes a short biographical sketch and discusses the work of Thomas Young...

This site from the University of Maryland provides part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of how scientists came to believe in the wave nature of light, the idea of an electromagnetic...