Glowing Tonic

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In this sunny day activity, learners compare how a cup of water and a cup of tonic water reflect or refract light in the sun. Learners will be surprised to observe the top of the tonic water "glowing" blue. This activity includes articles explaining the reflection and refraction of light.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 11
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • 2 clear plastic cups
  • 1 liter of tonic water
  • Tap water (enough to fill 1 cup)
  • Permanent marker
  • Black paper or felt
  • Clear plastic
  • Sunny day

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Vibration and Waves
      • Light and Optics
    • Light and Optics
      • Reflection and Refraction
      • Sunlight and Color
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations

Informal Categories

  • Food and Cooking
  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Optical Society of America, 2008