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Rotating Light
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore what happens when polarized white light passes through a sugar solution.
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Touch the Spring (Lightbulb)
Source Institutions
In this activity, a lightbulb is placed in front of a concave mirror. The actual lightbulb is not visible to the viewer, but the viewer can see the mirror image of the lightbulb formed in space.
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Dark Adaptation
Source Institutions
In this activity (6th on the page), learners investigate how photoreceptors in the eye (rods and cones) "adapt" to low light conditions.
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Vanishing Rods
Source Institutions
This is a quick activity/demonstration that introduces learners to the concept of index of refraction. Learners place stirring rods in a jar of water and notice they can see them clearly.
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Parabolas: It's All Done with Mirrors
Source Institutions
In this activity about light and reflection, learners use a special device called a Mirage Maker™ to create an illusion.
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Diffraction
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, demonstrate diffraction using a candle or a small bright flashlight bulb and a slide made with two pencils.
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Convection Current
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make their own heat waves in an aquarium.
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Glass and Mirrors: An Inside Look at Telescopes
Source Institutions
This hands-on astronomy activity allows you to create a “cutaway” telescope to clearly show how reflector and refractor telescopes work.
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Size and Distance
Source Institutions
In this activity about depth perception, learners create an optical illusion in a shoe box.
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Disappearing Glass Rods
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners discover how they can make glass objects "disappear." Learners submerge glass objects like stirring rods into a beaker of Wesson™ oil to explore how the principles of
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Phantom Phlame
Source Institutions
In this trick, hold your hand over a burning candle without getting burned, by reflecting and transmitting the light of two candles. This activity is best suited as a demonstration.
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Anti-Gravity Mirror
Source Institutions
In this demonstration, amaze learners by performing simple tricks using mirrors. These tricks take advantage of how a mirror can reflect your right side so it appears to be your left side.
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Spinning Tops
Source Institutions
Create your own spinning top, and explore color, shapes and spinning. This activity contains instructions for making your spinning top, and tips on how to design and decorate it.
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Release the Rainbow
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a water prism to break light into the seven colors of the rainbow.
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Rainbow in the Room
Source Institutions
This activity generates learner excitement about light through the creation of a room-sized rainbow.
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Slide Projector Activities
Source Institutions
This resource contains several mini-explorations using a slide projector as a light source to investigate light and the properties of images.
Why Are Two Eyes Better Than One?
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how their depth perception would be affected if they only had one eye. Learners work in pairs and attempt to drop a penny in a cup with one eye covered.
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Depth Perception
Source Institutions
In this easy demonstration (3rd on the page), learners explore depth perception by conducting a test with two pencils.
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Think Fast!
Source Institutions
This is a quick and simple demonstration about reflexes (fourth activity on the page). One learner stands behind a see-through barrier like a window or wire screen.
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Drop IT!: Depth Perception
Source Institutions
These two activities (4th on the page) demonstrate the importance of two eyes in judging depth.