Exploratorium
Bridge Light
An illuminating activity demonstrates how interference of light waves creates a pattern. Using Plexiglas™ and construction paper, participants see rainbows appear as they twist or press against the plastic plates. After the activity, you...
Curated OER
Typical Conceptual Questions for Physics I - Light and Quantum
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...
Exploratorium
Soap Film Painting
If you are up for constructing a wooden frame, you can do this demonstration of the interference patterns when light reflects off of layers of soapy film. Both constructive and destructive interference can be seen as evidenced by the...
Curated OER
Waves
An incredibly colorful PowerPoint presents all the facts and definitions about waves that you could need for beginning physical scientists. There are several useful links to online animations of wave action. This may have been produced...
Curated OER
Typical Numeric Questions for Physics I - Waves
Physics masters figure out the wavelength of different waves. Looking at a wave graph, they identify different characteristics. Many more problems get them working with both electromagnetic and sound waves. There are a total of 17...
Curated OER
Physics 152 ~ Fall 2003 Midterm Exam #3, Parts A, B
Illuminated physics stars show what they know about light by taking this exam. They match several related vocabulary terms to descriptions and answer multiple choice questions about the characteristics of light, magnification, and...
Curated OER
Fall 2003 Midterm Exam #3
Let there be light! When your physics learners take this midterm exam, light will be their focus. They will show what they know about electromagnetic waves, interference, refraction, reflection, lenses, prisms, and more! The test is...
Curated OER
Behavior of Waves
Lots of definitions are given here, and your students will find the details and links useful, along with the diagrams and examples.
Exploratorium
Bubble Tray
Create jumbo bubbles and use them to teach about surface tension or interference, perfect for a physical science lesson on light or molecular attraction.
Curated OER
Review of Optics
In this optics review learning exercise, students complete 50 multiple choice questions on light reflection, diffraction and interference.
Curated OER
Using Bubbles to Learn about Light Interference
Students explore constructive interference and destructive interference. In this light travel instructional activity, students follow procedures to discover how light waves travel and experience interference.
Curated OER
Wave Machine
Students experiment with wave behaviors. In this wave machine lesson, students design a model of waves to understand interference, standing waves, free-end reflection and wave velocity.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Interference
An indexing page for a physics department site about the wave properties of light that lead to interference.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Auditorium Acoustics
Home page for a hypertext physics course on auditorium acoustics and acoustical design.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Stadium Wave
[Free Registration/Login Required] A simulation that uses the classic sports stadium "wave" to learn about concepts important to wave motion and interference.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Stow Lake
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the patterns of wave interference in water in this simulation.
University of New South Wales (Australia)
University of New South Wales: School of Physics: Physiclips
Concepts of waves and sound are thoroughly presented in animation and film clips.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bubbles and Biosensors
Students learn that color swirls on the bubble surfaces are caused by refraction. Then they apply this theory to thin films in general, including porous films used in biosensors, listing factors that could change the color that become...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Tell Me the Odds (Of Cancer)
A seven-lesson unit where students learn the concepts of refraction and interference in order to solve this engineering challenge: In 2013, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy, not because she had been diagnosed with...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What Does Light See?
Students are introduced to the concept of refraction. After making sure they understand the concepts of diffraction and interference, students work collaboratively to explain optical phenomena that cannot be accounted for via these two...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Wavelike Behaviors of Light
How light waves demonstrate their wave nature by reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Light Waves and Color
The behavior of light waves is introduced and discussed. Also, polarization, color, diffraction, and interference are introduced and discussed thoroughly as supporting evidence of the wave nature of light.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Physics 1: Waves and Sound
Students will understand and predict wave phenomena, and investigate the energy contained in waves. They will gain a deeper understanding of waves and wave interference that will enable characterization and engineering of matter from the...
University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia: Single Slit Diffraction Pattern of Light
Explains single slit diffraction and models how to calculate different characteristics of the light waves.