Physics - Light and Optics Standards

Standard Number: 4.0 Light and Optics:

The student will examine the properties of light and optics.

Links verified 10/27/2012

Level 1 || Level 2 || Level 3

At Level 1, the student is able to:
1. explore properties of electromagnetic radiation.	An index of light waves and color tutorials from the Physics Classroom Electromagnetic Spectrum - In this applet, you can click on the wavelength/frequency scale and change the wavelength and frequency by dragging the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Holding the shift key down while pressing the left or right arrow keys changes the wavelength by a factor of 10. Electromagnetic Wave - This animation (java applet) shows an electromagnetic wave, namely a plane polarized wave, which propagates in positive x direction.
2. examine properties of light waves.	Wavelike Behaviors of Light two good animations are included with this tutorial Polarization - questions are included at the end to check your understanding of this concept Polarization 101 from Physics 2000 - Topics related to polarization are presented with great illustrations and several interactive tasks. Pinhole Camera - Use this interactive java applet to explore images formed by pinhole cameras. Prism - This interactive java applet let you play with a light source and a prism, to study the physics of light.

At Level 2, the student is able to:
1. differentiate among transmission, reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference of light waves.	Two Point Source Interference Huygens' principle can be investigated with this java applet Reflection and Refraction of Waves - (Explanation by Huygens' Principle) Refraction of Light - in this applet a ray of light coming from the top left strikes the boundary surface of two media Interference Movie from Physics 2000 Diffraction of Light by a Single Slit - a java applet Interference of Light at a Double Slit - a java applet
2. investigate the optical properties of plane and curved mirrors.	Image Formation in Plane Mirrors - explanation with diagrams and three questions to check your understanding Image Formation in Plane Mirrors - what portion of the mirror is needed to see the whole image? Optics Simulation - Add a beam of light by clicking the "Beam" button and then clicking again when you've moved the mouse to the point you'd like to place the beam. Add a mirror or lens by following the same procedure. Ray Diagrams - Concave Mirrors Ray Diagrams - Convex Mirrors Ray Diagrams for Plane Mirrors - explanation from the Physics Classroom accompanied by good diagrams and questions to check for understanding.
3. solve problems related to Snell�s law.	The mathematics of refraction - Snell's law Boundary Behavior - the concepts behind the math known as Snell's law Snell's law Java applet from Northwestern University - manipulate the variables on both sides of the boundary, and see a wave front view or a laser view Refraction and Reflection - change the indices of refraction of the two media, and drag the incoming ray to any angle between 0 and 90 degrees
4. explore the formation of color.	Electromagnetic and visible spectra Light absorption, reflection, and transmission - this tutorial includes practice questions Form white light by adding three colors of light using a click and drag applet Color addition - two questions to check understanding conclude this tutorial Color subtraction - examples are followed by a series of questions to check understanding Blue skies and red sunsets Mix light beams or paint pigments with this java applet (double right click to switch from light to paint) Shadows from overlapping colored light - This java applet let you play with shadow and image. To make it more fun, there are 3 different colors (Red/Green/Blue) light source.
At Level 3, the student is able to:
1. draw, explain, and solve problems for the optics of mirrors and lenses.	An index of ray optics animations from the Physics Classroom Image Formation in Plane Mirrors - explanation with diagrams and three questions to check your understanding Image Formation in Plane Mirrors - what portion of the mirror is needed to see the whole image? Optics Simulation - Add a beam of light by clicking the "Beam" button and then clicking again when you've moved the mouse to the point you'd like to place the beam. Add a mirror or lens by following the same procedure. Ray Diagrams - Concave Mirrors Ray Diagrams - Convex Mirrors Ray Diagram Simulator - change variables - double convex lens Ray Diagrams for Spherical Mirrors - interactive site from the Wolfram Demonstrations Project The anatomy of a lens Refraction by Lenses Image Formation Revisited Ray Diagrams (converging lenses) Object-Image Relations Ray Diagrams (diverging lenses) Object-Image Relations The Mathematics of Lenses Thick Lens java applet which allows your students to manipulate the variables The transmission of a wave through dense media - Reflection and Refraction (an excellent java applet which allows your students to manipulate the variables
2. investigate optical phenomena (i.e., the Puddle Effect, optical illusions, and polarization).	A set of Polarization lessons accompanied by interactive applets Introduction to Mirage Simulations - Each drawing in these simulations contains three parts: a ray diagram, a transfer curve, and a simulated image of the target. Make a permanent rainbow - Study thin film interference by making this "permanent rainbow." There is a good color calculator at the bottom of this page. ( scroll down, you did arrive at the right page ) Building the impossible kaleidoscope - create colors by rotating the plane of polarization ( scroll down, you did arrive at the right page ) Building a simple spectroscope ( scroll down, you did arrive at the right page )

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