Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
A Critical Lab Lesson PlanA Critical Lab Lesson Plan
Publisher
Physics Classroom
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Lesson Plan

A Critical Lab

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This A Critical Lab lesson plan also includes:
  • Lab & Experiment
  • Join to access all included materials

Physics lab groups finagle with laser lights to determine the critical angle of refraction for both water and Lucite. Because there are no detailed steps or an answer key for this enlightening exercise, an inexperienced physics instructor may be most comfortable assigning it. Also, because there is no lab sheet, learners must plan their own procedure and write a complete lab report. Do not discount this resource however; it offers outstanding teaching tips, a simple grading rubric, and embedded links to accompanying reading material for your class. 

17 Views 24 Downloads
Concepts

light, refraction

Additional Tags

critical angle, refraction, light, science
Show More Show Less

Resource Details

Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Science
1 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
1 hr
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
2 more...
Technology
Scientific Equipment
Year
2009

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Refraction B2—When is Light Reflected Internally?

Curated OER
Physics is phun in this lesson. Young physicists use a lightbox to test how and where light is refracted and reflected as it travels through transparent materials. Angles of incidence and refraction, sine of both angles, and the...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Assessment

Physical Setting: Physics Exam 2004

New York State Education Department
Twelve pages of mostly multiple-choice questions comprise this comprehensive New York Regents physics exam. It covers an entire year's worth of physics curriculum and takes about 3 hours to complete. Review the questions to ensure they...
9th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

Bill Nye The Science Guy on Light, Bending & Bouncing

Bill Nye
Beam me up, Bill! Explore how beams of light behave when they strike flat and curved surfaces. Bill bends light using a nifty contraption that streams three beams through a straight and a curved piece of plastic. He also defines and...
2 mins 6th - 10th Science
Interactive

Study Jams! Light Absorption, Reflection, & Refraction

Scholastic
Zoe and RJ are trying to photograph an egret on a lake, but they are having trouble with the lighting. Reflection, refraction, and absorption are explored through their thoughtful dialogue so that your physical scientists are illuminated...
3 mins 4th - 9th Science
Instructional Video

Physics Lab Demo : Optics Light Box

Curated OER
Use a light box to experiment with light rays. The teacher uses prisms, convex, and concave lenses to refract light rays. Get your physics class excited about reflection and refraction by showing this video before you have them...
6 mins 9th - 12th Science
eBook

College Physics for AP® Courses

Rice University
Take a look at an organized physics course. The 34-section electronic textbook covers material in AP® Physics 1 and 2. Teachers use the text to supplement lectures and have the class work through the labs. Each section contains...
9th - Higher Ed Science
Activity

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/light

Exploratorium
Here is a large collection of simple science class activities for understanding the physics of light.
9th - 10th Science
Unit Plan

Visionlearning: Physics: Light I: Particle or Wave

Vision Learning
Instructional module focusing on light. Discussion includes historical development of particle versus wave theories and the scientific studies leading to the understanding of light waves today. Site also includes an interactive practice...
9th - 10th Science
Worksheet

Typical Conceptual Questions for Physics I - Light and Quantum

Curated OER
This is a stellar overview of everything light and quantum! There are 30 multiple choice questions, none of them requiring any mathematical computation. There are a few diagrams to analyze: light rays striking reflective and refractive...
9th - 12th Science
Worksheet

Typical Numeric Questions for Physics I - Light and Optics

Curated OER
Nineteen word problems dealing with frequency, speed, reflection, and refraction of light are provided here. Empower your physics masters to manipulate equations for computing angles, focal lengths, image heights, and more! This is a...
9th - Higher Ed Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use