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Activity
NASA

Nasa: Probing Earth Through the Clouds

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site from the National Aeornautics and Space Administration provides a fun activity for the subject. "Clouds often hide large areas of the Earth's surface. We can use radar to make detailed maps of Earth right through clouds or...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Bubbularium

For Students 3rd - 8th
What colors do you see in a bubble? Why do you see colors in a bubble? Use this site to find out the answer to these questions with this easy experiment.
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Lesson Plan
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Blackbody Radiation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This program will produce the blackbody radiation curve for one or two objects when the student inputs the temperature(s) in kelvin. The program will also display on the curve the peak frequency and wavelength when one object is selected.
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Handout
Johns Hopkins University

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Students 9th - 10th
NASA related site shows the entire Electromagnetic Spectrum. Provides a brief description of the expansive colored spectrum as well as a related link that provides more details.
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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Mira Mira the Amazing Mira

For Teachers 4th
Using a mira, 4th graders draw symmetrical pictures and then explain how the mira works using what they know about reflection and the eye.
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Physics Ii: Electricity and Magnetism

For Teachers 9th - 10th
College-level physics course highlighting electricity and magnetism. This course is divided into several modules including electric fields, magnetic fields, electromagnetic forces, conductors and dielectrics, electromagnetic waves, and...
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Interference

For Students 9th - 10th
An indexing page for a physics department site about the wave properties of light that lead to interference.
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Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Interference in a Ripple Tank

For Students 3rd - 8th
An investigation, using a ripple tank, into how waves behave when they collide with each other. With an explanation of what is observed, and a link to an article on refraction.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Life's Big Questions: How Did the Universe Begin?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigate the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the universe by researching the light spectrum and the actions of light waves. Create models that illustrate red shift in a moving star and the expansion of the universe.
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Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Bubble Tray: Create Giant Bubbles

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
With this fun bubble tray experiment, students create giant bubbles and learn about surface tension and light interference.
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Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Shimmering Lenses

For Students 3rd - 8th
An experiment using Jell-O to create lenses, to see how light behaves with flat, concave, and convex lens surfaces. With an explanation of what is observed, and a link to an informative article on lenses.
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Article
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: 2 Point Source Interference Patterns

For Students 9th - 10th
The interference of two sets of circular waves with the same frequency and the same amplitude results in a standing wave pattern. These standing wave patterns are known as two-point source interference patterns since they result from the...
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Handout
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Two Point Source Interference

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson from the Glenbrook South High School discusses two-point source interference. It gives detail on the difference between constructive and destructive interference, what a two-point source interference is and what happens when...
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eBook
Simon Fraser University

Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Atoms and the Periodic Table

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the General Chemistry Virtual Textbook, this site examines a list of related topics (in hyperlink format) on the atom and the Periodic Table of elements. Topics from light, particles, and waves to the Bohr model, quantum...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Quantum Dots and Colors

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students are introduced to the physical concept of the colors of rainbows as light energy in the form of waves with distinct wavelengths, but in a different manner than traditional kaleidoscopes. Looking at different quantum dot...
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Handout
Nobel Media AB

The Nobel Prize: The Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from The Nobel Foundation you can read about the scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907, Albert A. Michelson (1852-1931 CE). Here, you can read a detailed biography which provides information on Michelson's...
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Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 2

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 2 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
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PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 3

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 3 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
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PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 4

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 4 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
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Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 1

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 1 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
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Graphic
Curated OER

Light

For Students Pre-K - 1st
light
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Handout
Trinity College Dublin

The History of Mathematics: Young

For Students 9th - 10th
A short sketch of the life and work of Thomas Young (1773-1829 CE). Traces early upbringing and education and his scientific discoveries and contributions.
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Handout
Synopsys

Synopsys: A Gentle Intro to Optical Design: Why Is the Sky Blue?

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses Rayleigh scattering in plain language and attributes the blueness of the skies to this phenomenon. Discussion of scattering is just one topic of many on this lengthy page of optical topics.
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Handout
University of St. Andrews (UK)

University of St. Andrews: Augustin Fresnel

For Students 9th - 10th
A short biographical sketch on the life and work of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827). Comments on a few of his scientific accomplishments.

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