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Handout
Synopsys

Synopsys: Optics: A Gentle Intro to Optical Design: Wave Particle Duality

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the manner in which light behaves as both wave and particle. This dualistic nature of light is one topic of many on the page.
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Unit Plan
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Cat Scans: Projecting Shadows

For Students 9th - 10th
This page and the three pages which follow discuss how X-ray technology can be used to produce an image of the human body. Discussion is understandable and highly intriguing. Several interactive animations allow the visitor to explore...
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Handout
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Polarization

For Students 9th - 10th
"How Do We Know Light Behaves as a Wave?" An answer is provided in this discussion of the polarization of light and the use of Polaroid filters in sunglasses. The four methods discussed on this page are: polarization by transmission,...
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Light Waves, Visible and Invisible

For Students 9th - 10th
Lucianne Walkowicz shows us the waves just beyond our perception: microwaves, radio waves, x-rays and more. [5:58]
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Website
Florida State University

Florida State University: Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Handout
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Light, Matter, Energy: Light the Way

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Wavelength of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the characteristics of light, presents two formulas for calculating its wavelength, and provides a table of the different wavelength ranges across the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Unit Plan
Synopsys

Synopsys: Optics for Kids: What Is Light?

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site provides a short explanation of light, how it travels, and the speed in which it travels. Many other concepts related to optics can be found on this site as well.
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Activity
Physics Central

Physics Central: Physics in the Living Room: Remote Control Tricks

For Students 6th - 8th
An easy experiment through which students learn about light rays and the electromagnetic spectrum. Requires a TV, its remote, and a hand-held, flat mirror.
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Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Maxwell, James

For Students 9th - 10th
This ScienceWorld site describes the Scottish mathematician and physicist James Maxwell (1831-1879) who published physical and mathematical theories of the electromagnetic field.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Color

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Georgia State University discusses the location of visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum. Includes the wavelength values for various colors of light within the visible light spectrum.
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Nasa: Imagine the Universe: What's the Frequency, Roy G. Biv

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this very detailed lesson plan from NASA, learners investigate wavelength and frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Visual Spectrum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students make simple spectroscopes (prisms) to look at different light sources. The spectroscopes allow students to see differing spectral distributions of different light sources.
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Least Time

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Explore how Snell's Law arises out of the principle of least time; understand how light rays change direction at interfaces between materials using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a...
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Unit Plan
California Institute of Technology

Cool Cosmos: The Herschel Experiment

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides a background on the discoverer of infared light--Sir Frederick William Herschel. A version of the experiment Herschel conducted in the 1800s is provided as well.
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Handout
University of Oregon

University of Oregon: Electromagnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
A solid summary from the University of Oregon of the work of James Maxwell Clerk, Michael Faraday, and others in the field of electric and magnetic phenomena. This is a fine essay.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Visible Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart introduces fifth grade students to the electromagnetic spectrum and focuses on the visible light spectrum, but all types of energy waves in the electromagnetic spectrum are touched on. It...
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: James Clerk Maxwell

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine the life and contributions of James Clerk Maxwell. This site also provides links to explanations of many of Maxwell's contributions in the field of physics.
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Website
Geography 4 kids

Geography4 kids.com: Waves and Particles

For Students 3rd - 8th
Understand how light moves in small particles in the electomagntic spectrum.
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Unit Plan
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Einstein's Legacy: Microwave Ovens

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of pages that explain how microwave radiation is utilized by ovens to cook food. Includes several Java applets.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Scattering Concepts

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of several pages explaining the principles which underlie Rayleigh scattering of light.
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Graphic
University of California

Center for Science Education: Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
A gallery of astronomy images which depict galaxies, comets, the moon, planets, nebulae, supernovae as seen in various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each image in the gallery is described. Fascinating!
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Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Apps Zur Physik

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, in German, offers numerous apps that illustrate common physics principles. Apps are organized into categories: mechanics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, physics of...
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Diffraction and Constructive and Destructive Interference

For Students 9th - 10th
Article goes into detail about what exactly is interference.

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