Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Physics: Light I: Particle or Wave
Instructional module focusing on light. Discussion includes historical development of particle versus wave theories and the scientific studies leading to the understanding of light waves today. Site also includes an interactive practice...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: The Nature of a Wave
A very good introduction to the world of waves. Waves and wavelike motion, what is a wave, and categories of waves are the topics examined in this site. Many links to other wave sites.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Diffraction Calculations
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate diffraction of light and the interference patterns that are produced through constructive and destructive interference of the waves. Students...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Diffraction
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate diffraction of light and the interference patterns that are produced through constructive and destructive interference of the waves. Students...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Wave Properties
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate behaviors of waves, including interference, reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: General Properties of Waves
Light travels as waves. Waves can be described by their amplitude, wavelength and frequency. The speed of a wave can be calculated from its frequency and wavelength.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Crick, Watson, and Franklin
This article describes the race to unlock the mystery of life by determining the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The discovery of DNA and its structure is an example of collective learning.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Resources: Video Demonstrations in Lasers and Optics
Several demonstrations shown in a video lecture format, illustrate the theory and applications of lasers and optics.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Diffraction of Sound
This site's entry is a discussion of diffraction and its application to acoustics and acoustical design. Exceptional illustrations and great discussion throughout.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Light and Optics
Rainbows and sunsets are called "atmospheric optics". They can be caused by light being absorbed, reflected, scattered, refracted, or diffracted by particles in the atmosphere. Learn all about different atmospheric optics along with...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Wave Interference
Conduct virtual experiments with water, sound, and light waves to determine the sine wave and patterns created in each.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Wave
An in-depth encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on waves gives a definition for what a wave is. Other content in the article includes a list of examples and characteristics of waves, information about the difference between transverse...
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Multiple Slit Diffraction Model
Simulation that shows the diffraction of light through single or multiple slits. Simulation allows modification of the number of slits, slit width, slit separation, and the wavelength.
Other
The University of Salford: Sounds Amazing
This site has several lessons all about sound. It introduces sound, then covers major principles of waves and the wave equation. Each lesson has interactive activities to keep you interested, and there are even some test questions.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Cd Spectroscope
Analyze light by creating a CD spectroscope in this activity. See the whole spectrum of light with the spectroscope.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Using Spectral Data to Explore Saturn and Titan
Students use authentic spectral data from the Cassini mission of Saturn and Saturn's moon, Titan, gathered by instrumentation developed by engineers. Taking these unknown data, and comparing it with known data, students determine the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Using a Fancy Spectrograph
Students use the spectrograph from the "Building a Fancy Spectrograph" activity to gather data about different light sources. Using the data, they make comparisons between the light sources and make conjectures about the composition of...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: A Spectral Mystery
Students use the spectrograph from the "Building a Fancy Spectrograph" activity to gather data about light sources. Using their data, they make comparisons between different light sources and make conjectures about the composition of a...
Other
The Science Hobbyist: Hand Drawn Holograms
Instructions for making a scratch hologram. Includes interesting anecdotes, background information, and links to other holography sites.
Other
S Cool Youth: Diffraction, Interference and Superposition
An interactive resource on diffraction, interference and superposition with descriptions, animations, and questions.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Sound Waves & Music: Reflection, Refraction, Diffraction
In this illustrated physics tutorial, students learn about sound wave behaviors and apply them to the reflection, diffraction, and refraction of sound waves.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves and Color: Wavelike Behaviors of Light
In this series of interactive physics tutorials, students will focus on the wavelike nature of light.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves and Color: Thin Film Interference
Students investigate an example of interference that provides further evidence in support of the wavelike behavior of light.