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Worksheet
Curated OER

Typical Conceptual Questions for Physics I - Light and Quantum

For Students 9th - 12th
This is a stellar overview of everything light and quantum! There are 30 multiple choice questions, none of them requiring any mathematical computation. There are a few diagrams to analyze: light rays striking reflective and refractive...
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Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

Optics and Anthony Johnson

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Message sending has come a long way since the days of Morse code's dots and dashes. Young scientists study the research of optical physicist Anthony Johnson and his work in fiber optics, lasers, and the principle of total internal...
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Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

The Black Scientific Renaissance of the 1970s-90s: African American Scientists at Bell Laboratories

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
A two-part lesson asks young scientists to research the contributions of African American scientists at Bell Laboratories. After presenting their findings, class members watch two demonstrations that introduce them to total internal...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Fibre Optic Cable Class

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Many people know that fiber optics are used in delivering the Internet, but are surprised to learn they are also used in astronomy. Scholars explore light, reflection, and fiber optics through hands-on activities. They discuss methods of...
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PPT
Urbana School District

Optics

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Don't worry, optics is a light topic! The presentation covers reflection, refraction, fiber optics, mirages, prisms, rainbows, dispersion, mirrors, lenses, telescopes, diffraction, the human eye, and much, much more. Presentation is the...
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Lesson Plan
Code.org

Sending Bits in the Real World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A bit optional. How do computers transmit in the real world? Pupils research a device that is used in transmitting bits, then individuals create a poster that presents the information they have learned about their device. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DISCOUNT LENSES ( GELATIN WAVE GUIDES)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study attributes associated with concept of fiber optics is done using a labmade fiber optic from clear molded gelatin. A variety of shapes can be cut and pieced together to form a conduit to transmit the laser beam by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fiber Optics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This is a printout of the slides for a presentation on fiber optics. In bullet-style notes, it covers how optic fibers work, their structure, different types, and their use. You may use these as a lecture guide, or if you want to take...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Miscellaneous Light Topics

For Students 9th - 12th
In this light topics science worksheet, students read selections about fiber optics, fluorescent light, incandescent light, total internal reflection, polarization, glow-in-the-dark light, and lasers. Students then respond to 32...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fiber Optics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the uses of optical fibers, are exposed to the principles of refraction and total internal reflection, solve problems relating to the design of fiber optic cables, and compare them to copper transmission lines.
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Handout
Other

Lascomm: The Basics of Fiber Optic Cable

For Students 9th - 10th
An informative article about fiber optics cabling. Includes an introduction, fiber-optic technology, an illustration, applications, advantages and disadvantages, economics, and summary.
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Handout
Other

Communications Specialties: Introduction to Fiber Optics [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information on fiber optic network cable technology. Includes an introduction, optical transmitters, optical fiber, receivers, and designing a fiber optic system.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light Properties

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn about the basic properties of light and how light interacts with objects. They are introduced to the additive and subtractive color systems, and the phenomena of refraction. Students further explore the differences between...
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Handout
National Academy of Engineering

Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century: Lasers & Fiber Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
Learners investigate lasers and fiber optics in the 20th century. Some topics explored are working lasers, optical fiber, and the gossamer web. The resource includes historical information, a timeline, and a personal essay by a key...
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Behavior of Incident Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Georgia State University is an indexing page for several other pages on the topic of reflection. Topics are treated in an understandable manner and utilize meaningful graphics.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Total Internal Reflection

For Students 9th - 10th
This physics department site provides a definition and explanation of the phenomenon of total internal reflection. Includes a diagram and an equation for calculating the critical angle for light approaching a surface.
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Resources: Understanding Lasers and Fiberoptics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A video lecture series illustrating the fundamentals of laseroptics. Topics include the physical interpretation of laser and fiberoptic phenomena and their applications.
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Handout
University of South Florida

Fcit: Fiber Optic Cable

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology provides information and features of the fiber optic cable.
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Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: A Very Good Blast From the Past

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the importance of laser technology to modern life, how the laser was invented, how lasers work, and what we can expect in the future from laser technology. [Date of Article: October 27, 2010]
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Handout
Other

Corning Optical Fibers

For Students 9th - 10th
Corning serves as a leader in optical fiber technology and this website provides information about the uses of optical fibers in medical imaging, communication, etc., as well as industry news and related resources.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Fiber Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
This physics department site provides a discussion and explanation of fiber optics and fiber optic imaging.
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Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Critical Angle

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students can see light reflected and refracted in this demonstration. They will also discover the total internal reflection of light.
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Graphic
National Museum of Science and Industry (UK)

Ingenious: Optics Images

For Students 9th - 10th
This series of images is a combined collection of over three museums' collections of optics images. The images are sorted by pages with about nine images per page and over ten pages.
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Hidden Network That Makes the Internet Possible

For Students 9th - 10th
What is fiber optics and how does it work? Sajan Saini explores the vital technology.