Iridescent Art
Source Institutions
-
Twin Cities Public Television
Add to listGo to activity
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. Learners will use clear water and a single drop of clear nail polish to produce iridescent masterpieces they can take home, permanently displaying the effects of light waves interacting with a film only a few nanometers thick. Also relates to linked video, DragonflyTV Nano: Butterfly Wings.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- black construction paper
- pan
- water
- clear nail polish
Subjects
- Engineering and Technology
- Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Human Senses and Perception
- Vision
- Human Senses and Perception
- Mathematics
- Measurement
- Size and Scale
- Measurement
- Physical Sciences
- Light and Optics
- Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Sunlight and Color
- Vibration and Waves
- Vibration and Waves
- Diffraction and Interference
- Light and Optics
- The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Arts and Crafts
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection:
- DragonflyTV
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., ©2008
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, 741749
