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Exploring the Universe: Filtered Light
Source Institutions
"Exploring the Universe: Filtered Light" demonstrates how scientists can use telescopes and other tools to capture and filter different energies of light to study the universe.
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First Impressions
Source Institutions
Learners experiment with a commercial photo-sensitive paper (Sunprint® or NaturePrint® paper). They place opaque and clear objects on the paper and expose it to bright light, observing the results.
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Pearlescent Pigments
Source Institutions
This is written as a display, but can easily be adapted to a hands-on activity. Learners observe and shake containers of shiny liquids.
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Morphing Butterfly
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how nanosized structures can create brilliant color.
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Exploring Structures: Butterfly
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners investigate how some butterfly wings get their color.
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Finding the Size of the Sun and Moon
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a simple pinhole viewer. They use this apparatus to project images from a variety of light sources, including a candle, the Sun, and the Moon.
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Exploring the Universe: Exoplanet Transits
Source Institutions
In "Exploring the Universe: Exoplanet Transits," participants simulate one of the methods scientists use to discover planets orbiting distant stars.
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Make a Garbage Bag Kite
Source Institutions
Make a kite out of a garbage bag, shower curtain, painting tarp--anything light, thin, flexible and plastic!
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Exploring Materials: Graphene
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners investigate the properties of graphene and graphite.
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Exploring Ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun
Source Institutions
In this outdoor activity, learners explore UV rays from the Sun and ways to protect against these potentially harmful rays.
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Opti-Top
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will create an optical illusion top. Learners will explore color mixing, physics and design through this activity.
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Changing Colors
Source Institutions
Learners experiment with a commercially available liquid-crystal coaster. They warm the material with their hands for varying lengths of time and observe the changing colors that result.
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Exploring Materials: Thin Films
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.
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Periscope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct a device that allows them to look over ledges or around corners.
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Rainbow Film
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use clear nail polish to create a beautiful iridescent pattern on black paper. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.
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Bring it into Focus
Source Institutions
In this activity (page 2 of PDF), learners play with a lens and a piece of paper to focus an image on the paper. Learners look at different things, and see how the lenses affect the image.
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Safe in the Sun
Source Institutions
In this activity on page 13 of the PDF, use a special plastic card that has been painted with a chemical that changes color when it is in UV light.
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Eye Spy
Source Institutions
This fun activity uses simple materials such as milk cartons and mirrors to introduce the ideas of optics and visual perception.
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Stereoscope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct a device that allows them to view 2-D images in 3-D.
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Exploring Materials: Nano Gold
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.