Search Results
Showing results 1 to 20 of 24
Polarized Light
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners experiment with polarizers (small dark rectangles) to examine light intensity.

Three Circles of Pigments
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners overlap the three primary colors to see how all other colors are made.

Beam Me Up!
Source Institutions
This is a quick activity (on page 2 of the PDF under Stained Glass Activity) about the "Tyndall effect," the scattering of visible light when it hits very small dispersed particles.

Inverse Square Law
Source Institutions
In this math activity related to light, learners explore why a light, such as a candle or a streetlight, looks dimmer the farther away from it we get.

Soap-Film Interference Model: Get on our wavelength!
Source Institutions
By making models of light waves with paper, learners can understand why different colors appear in bubbles.
Mix and Match
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners explore color by examining color dots through colored water and the light of a flashlight.

Oil Spot Photometer
Source Institutions
In this math activity related to light, learners assemble a photometer and use it to estimate the power output of the Sun.

Morphing Butterfly
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how nanosized structures can create brilliant color.

Moiré Patterns
Source Institutions
In this activity about light and perception, learners create and observe moire patterns.

Corner Reflector
Source Institutions
In this optics/mathematics activity, learners use two hinged mirrors to create a kaleidoscope that shows multiple images of an object.

Polarized Sunglasses
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how polarizing sunglasses can help diminish road glare.

Mirrors and Images
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners explore how many objects they can see in a set of mirrors (hinged like a book) at various angles.

Globe at Night
Source Institutions
In this international citizen science activity, learners measure their night sky brightness and submit their observations into an online database.

Lagging Sound
Source Institutions
In this group activity, learners see and hear the speed of sound. A learner designated the "gonger" hits a gong, once every second, as the rest of the group watches and listens from a distance.

Cylindrical Mirror
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a cylindrical mirror to see themselves as others see them.

Periscope
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners build a spy tool to secretly view things over walls or around corners.

Kaleidoscope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build inexpensive kaleidoscopes using transparency paper and foil (instead of mirrors).

Critical Angle
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners examine how a transparent material such as glass or water can actually reflect light better than any mirror.

Iridescent Art
Source Institutions
This is a quick activity (on page 2 of the PDF under Butterfly Wings Activity) that illustrates how nanoscale structures, so small they're practically invisible, can produce visible/colorful effects.

Heavy or Light
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore a scale by comparing objects, which look similar but have different weights. Learners predict and then measure the weights of various objects using a scale.