Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Ray Diagrams
This illustrated physics tutorial serves as a step-by-step guide to drawing ray diagrams. It includes an opportunity for students to practice and check their answers.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Ray Model of Light: Why an Image Is Formed
This illustrated physics tutorial uses animations to attempt to explain to students why images appear.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Ray Model of Light: Image Characteristics
Through illustrated examples and interactive practice problems, students learn about real and virtual images.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection/ray Model of Light: Mirror Portion Required
A tutorial which demonstrates how ray diagrams can be used to determine what portion of a plane mirror must be used in order to view an image.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Ray Model of Light: Ray Diagrams Concave
In this physics tutorial, students investigate the method for drawing ray diagrams for objects placed at various locations in front of a concave mirror.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Ray Model of Light: Spherical Aberration
An illustrated physics tutorial which explains the spherical aberration, an intrinsic defect with any mirror that takes on the shape of a sphere.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection/ray Model of Light: Convex Mirror Images
Students explore three different ray diagrams for objects positioned at different locations along the principal axis in a convex mirror.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Reflection/ray Model of Light: The Mirror Equation Convex
While a ray diagram may help one determine the approximate location and size of the image, it will not provide numerical information about image distance and image size. To obtain this, students are introduced to the Mirror Equation and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: What Is Albedo?
When light strikes an object it can cause reflection or absorption depending on the wavelength of the light and the property of the material that makes up the object. Watch this whiteboard animation for a full explanation and to find out...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Geometric Optics
This interactive unit will help students to understand the basics of geometric optics. Learn what happens when light strikes the boundary between two media as well as the difference between a real and virtual image? Also explore the law...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Lesson 3: Concave Mirrors
Lesson 3 of this tutorial on refraction is on concave mirrors. Content that is covered includes the anatomy of curved mirrors, reflection of light and image formation, ray diagrams, image characteristics for concave mirrors, plus more.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Laser Waterfall
In this video from the Encyclopedia of Physics Demonstrations, students will observe how a laser beam is trapped in a water jet because the light reflects against the surface of the water. [1:03]
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Make That Invisible! Refractive Index Matching
Students determine the refractive index of a liquid with a simple technique using a semi-circular hollow block. Then they predict the refractive index of a material (a Pyrex glass tube) by matching it with the known refractive index of a...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Polarization
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students understand the meaning of polarization and its mechanism and polarization by transmission and reflection.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Diamond Cut
[Free Registration/Login Required] A simulation investigating why a diamond shines by looking at refraction, reflection, and total internal reflection.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Construct It!
Students use simple household materials, such as PVC piping and compact mirrors, to construct models of laser-based security systems. The protected object (a "mummified troll" or another treasure of your choosing) is placed "on display"...
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.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Mirrors and Images
An experiment to investigate how many images appear as the angle between two hinged mirrors is increased. Accompanied by an explanation of what is happening, questions for students to consider, and a link to an article about reflection.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Eye Disease and Contact Lenses
Punctate keratitis is an eye disease that results in abrasions on the epithelial cornea. One of the leading causes of the disease is the overuse of contact lenses. A research team is investigating the optical properties of four new types...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Blue Skies and Red Sunsets
This high school resource shows how the blue of the skies and the red of the sunsets can be explained by the interaction of sunlight with atmospheric particles which causes scattering of light.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Basic Concepts in Optical Microscopy
This site explores the microscope in great detail. Content includes a focus on the microscope's basic functions (including a general diagram), the history of the microscope, each feature of the microscope, differing objectives,...
National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art: The Elements of Art: Color
Students will be introduced to color, one of the basic elements of art, through analysis of works of art by Monet, Matisse, and Kandinsky. Class discussion focused on these paintings will help students understand how artists use color to...
University of Chicago
University of Chicago: Reflector and Refractor
From the Yerkes Observatory Virtual Tour web site. Compares and contrasts reflecting and refracting telescopes. A link from the page leads to a second page which explains why most modern research telescopes are reflecting telescopes.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: How We See Things
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this unit children learn that mirrors and shiny surfaces alter the direction in which light travels and that when they see objects light enters the eye. Children contrast reflection and shadow...