Exploratorium
Hot Spot
Not only does a concave mirror focus light waves, it can also concentrate infrared radiation into a hot spot. If you have a small electric heater and such a mirror, demonstrate this for your physical science class.
Curated OER
Global Warming: Life in a Greenhouse
Students examine the evidence that scientists have used to support the existence of global warming and the greenhouse effect. How the concepts have been developed and evaluated form the focus of this lesson.
Curated OER
Liquid Crystal IR Detector
Students experiment with one method of detecting infrared radiation. They simulate the detection of infrared radiation using a liquid crystal sheet.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Absorption of Radiant Energy by Different Colors
In this science fair project, use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of differently colored paper exposed to sunlight, and calculate energy emission using the Stefan-Boltzmann equation. Find discussion questions, a list...
Other
Simple Science: Hurricane Central
Learners investigate images of Hurricane Katrina as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico in August 2005. The resource has students examine images, infrared radiation, water vapor, and visible radiation to plot and measure the path of...
NASA
Nasa's the Space Place: A Trip to the Land of the Magic Windows
Explore the electromagnetic spectrum and learn about each type of energy on the spectrum.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Electromagnetic Waves
Using a student-teacher dialogue format, this page discusses the nature of light as an electromagnetic wave and the electromagnetic spectrum.
California Institute of Technology
Nasa: Infrared Astronomy
A complete, multi-page tutorial on infrared radiation and its importance to astronomical studies.
King's Centre for Visualization in Science
Explaining Climate Change: Lesson 4: Climate: A Balancing Act
How does the Earth's energy balance regulate climate? This is the fourth lesson in a series of learning modules on the topic of climate change. This lesson explores how different factors can impact the amount of energy that enters and...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Greenhouse Effect in a Greenhouse
A lab where students will construct their own small greenhouse out of a plastic container, plastic wrap, and different materials to observe the effect this has on temperature. Data is collected, graphed, and saved online to be graded by...
Society for Science and the Public
Science News for Students: Small but Wise
Describes the WISE Project, which has an infrared telescope orbiting the Earth taking photographs of never before seen areas of space.
California Institute of Technology
Ipac: Iras Gallery
This site from IPAC is a series of images of various celestial objects and regions as viewed in infrared light. Each photo is accompanied by a caption.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: William Herschel
Learn about the life and work of William Herschel, and find out about his telescope coinstruction and solar system reserach.
NASA
Nasa: Mission: Science: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Infrared Waves
Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet.
NASA
Nasa: The Space Place: Match Light Faces With Heat Faces
This site from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides information on the subject. "An infrared camera sees heat, rather than light. Can you match up the face in the infrared image with the same face in visible light?"
NASA
Nasa: The Space Place: The Land of the Magic Windows
This is a site from NASA that contains an interesting and fun way to learn about the electromagnetic spectrum. Kate receives a strange riddle from her grandfather. Find out what it says and go through the gateway to the Land of the Magic...
Florida State University
Florida State University: Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
This site from The Florida State University provides an informational page on electromagnetic radiation discusses the characteristics and properties of its many forms including X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, infrared...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Greenhouse Gases
Do you understand the relationship between temperature and carbon dioxide in our atmosphere? This computer model shows factors such as clouds and carbon dioxide that could cause global temperatures to rise. Students investigate how the...
Science Struck
Science Struck: Working of an Infrared Thermometer
Learn how an infrared thermometer works and what each of its parts does. A chart lists the different applications of infrared thermometers by the wavelength each emits.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Radiant Energy Flow
A virtual lab to look at the physical features of Earth that affect the amount of the Sun's energy that hits Earth. Students investigate how solar and infrared radiations enters and leaves the atmosphere with this model. Virtual lab...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Em Spectrum: Waves of Energy
Students are introduced to the electromagnetic spectrum through this group research activity. Each group investigates a different wavelength range within the em spectrum and reports back to class. Discussion ideas also included.
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Infra Red Eye Special
A description of the ways in which infra-red is used in astronomy, including an extended example describing how infra-red was used to learn about Pluto's moon, Charon. There are also links to other sites of astronomical interest.
California Institute of Technology
Cal Tech: Two Micron All Sky Survey
Learn about the Two Micron All Sky Survey project, in which telescopes and observatories scan the sky for infrared radiation in order to learn more about the Milky Way galaxy. The infrared spectrum is described and its importance to...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Light, Matter, Energy: Light the Way
What is electromagnetic radiation and how does it work? Review a captioned graphic that explains electromagnetic radiation and the visible and invisible types of radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum.