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- The
Topic:
- Light
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- Easier - Light is
brightness that comes from an object such as the
sun, a fire, a flashlight, or a lamp.
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- Harder - All light
comes from atoms. Atoms that produce light have
either gained energy by absorbing light from
another source or by being struck by other
particles. It is this 'extra energy' that causes an
atom to give off light. The light being emitted is
carrying off the extra energy.
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- Our light comes from the sun. Light from the
sun also heats our earth. Sunlight causes plant
growth; the sun's energy is stored in the plants.
Ancient plant life has provided the earth's supply
of fossil fuels; the coal, natural gas, and oil
deposits.
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- Light has been described as a wave because the
movement of light was seen as being similar to an
ocean wave. However more recent theory sees light
as a small particle, called a photon. A photon
moves in a straight line. In both the light wave
and photon descriptions, the light has energy. Is
light a wave or a particle? It is strictly neither;
however sometimes it acts like a wave and other
times it is more like a particle. It is called an
electromagnetic wave. The amount of energy that is
carried by the wave or photon largely determines
its color.
- Circles
of Light: The Mathematics of Rainbows at the
University of Minnesota
- http://www.geom.umn.edu/education/calc-init/rainbow/
- How are rainbows formed? Why do they only occur
when the sun is behind the observer? If the sun is
low on the horizon, at what angle in the sky should
we expect to see a rainbow?
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- Make
a Splash with Color from the Tech
Museum
- http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/color/intro/
- This exhibit has three main sections: Talking
about Color, The Lighter Side of Color, and An Eye
on Color. Explore the relationship of light and
color.
- Other Color and Light Sites:
- 2)Color Perception http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=50065&url=50065/psych/effects.html
- 3) Seeing Color (Arizona State University)
http://ls.la.asu.edu/askabiologist/research/seecolor/
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- Optics
for Kids: Science and Engineering by Bruce
Irving (Optical Research Associates)
- http://www.opticalres.com/kidoptx.html
- This site provides a look at some optical
basics.
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- Physics
of Light at Physics4Kids
- http://www.physics4kids.com/files/light_main.html
- Visit here to learn a little about light and
it's connection to everything in the Universe.
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- Websites By Kids For
Kids
- Discovering
Light (1999 ThinkQuest
Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/27356/
- This site will lead you
into the phenomena, properties, and applications of
light.
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- Exciting
World of Light and Energy
(1998 ThinkQuest Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/22915/
- Did you know that a
rainbow is formed by light refracted (or bent)
through drops of water in the air?
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- Fiat
Lux (Let There be Light)
1999 ThinkQuest Project
- http://library.thinkquest.org/26938/
- Learn about the way that
light moves through space, time, and how light is
seen by the eye, how the image is transmitted to
the brain, and how the brain interprets the
image.
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- Light
(1999 Thinkquest Junior Project)
- http://tqjunior.advanced.org/5699/
- Here you can learn about: the sun, moon, light
waves, colors,and projects that you can do.
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- Light
(1999 ThinkQuest Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/28160/
- This site will teach you all about lasers,
wavelengths, mirrors, diffraction, reflection, and
other cool properties of light.
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- Light,
Color & Optics at New Trier Connections
Project
- http://nths.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/math/Connections/light/light.htm
- As the website title says, the projects here
deal with properties of light, color and
optics.
- Related Site:
- 2) Reflection
http://nths.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/math/Connections/reflection/REFLECT.htm
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- The
Light (1998 ThinkQuest Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/23805/
- You may think of light only in terms of its
physical, biological, and chemical properties, but
it is also a religious symbol, is important in
artistic expression, and even affects our feelings.
You can learn about everything from the aurora
borealis to how blind kids experience light and
color.
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- Light
& Energy (Part of the Wizard's Lab, a 1997
ThinkQuest Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/11924/light.html
- Light has a relationship to energy and
vice-versa.
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- Photography
| The Art of Light (1999 ThinkQuest
Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/25473/
- The major contribution of the site is the clear
explanation of light: the most important element in
photography.
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- See
The Light (1997 ThinkQuest Project)
- http://library.thinkquest.org/13405/
- This site will enlighten you about everything
from the speed to light to color, reflection, and
mirrors.
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- More Websites For Light
- Arizona
Solar Center
- http://www.azsolarcenter.com/index.html
- Come inside and explore various solar
technologies, including photovoltaics, solar
cooking, solar water heating, and passive solar
architecture.
- Other Solar Energy Websites:
- 2) Roofus' Solar and Efficient Neighborhood
http://www.eren.doe.gov/roofus/
- 3) Schools Going Solar http://www.ttcorp.com/upvg/schools/
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- Dynamic
Sun at Space Science Institute
- http://www.spacescience.org/ExploringSpace/VirtualExhibit/TheDynamicSun/1.html#Suns
- Crown/1.html#PlasmasControlled
- Here you learn about the source of light, solar
flares, corona, and much more.
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- Exposure
Explained
- http://www.88.com/exposure/exposure.htm
- In order for an image to be captured on film,
it must be exposed to light. Explore the
relationship between photography and light.
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- Light
Fantastic at Thinking Fountain
- http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/books/lightfantastic.html
- Have some fun with a few light activities!
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- Light
and Optics
- (Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS),
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
- http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/opt/home.rxml
- As sunlight (or moonlight) enters the
atmosphere, it is either absorbed, reflected,
scattered, refracted or diffracted by atmospheric
particles or air molecules. These processes,
individually or in combination, are responsible for
producing most optical effects.
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- Lighting
Resource
- http://www.lightresource.com/litelink.html
- This links-page connects to a ton of websites
on artificial lighting.
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- Snacks
about Light at The Exploratorium
- http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/iconlight.html
- Here are lots of activity 'snacks' for you to
do.
- Similar Website:
- 2) Snacks about Perception http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/iconperception.html
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- Star
Light Star Bright
- http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/light/
- Make some waves and explore the energy
connection. Find out how hot a star is just by
looking at it!
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- Wave
Properties of Light at the University of
Winnipeg
- http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/physics/light/index.html
- Learn more about the general properties of
light and waves.
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- Websites for Teachers
- Color
& Light--Teacher Resources
(TrackStar)
- http://scrtec.org/track/tracks/s00090.html
- Here you find resources for teaching lessons
about color, the spectrum, shadows, heat,
refraction, reflection, and light.
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- The
Color of Light at The Franklin Institute Online
(Grade 4-6)
- http://www.fi.edu/tfi/activity/physics/op-3.html
- Ask your students what color they think light
is. A silly question? Sunlight or light from a lamp
may look "white" but it is really made up of
different colors.
- Related Lessons:
- 2) Adding Colors http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/physics/op-2.html
- 3) The All-American Afterimage http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/physics/op-1.html
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- Direct
and Diffuse Light at the University of
Illinois
- http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/w_unit/LESSONS/direct.diffuse.html
- This lesson helps the learner understand the
difference between direct and diffuse light.
- Related Lessons:
- 2) Light and Heat http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/w_unit/LESSONS/lightisheat.html
- 3) Reflectivity and Absorption http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/w_unit/LESSONS/reflectivity.absorption.html
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- Light
Lesson
- http://www.uncwil.edu/nurc/aquarius/lessons/light.htm
- What affect does water have on light? Why is
water blue? This set of explorations should help
you get a better understanding of seeing in the
underwater world.
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- Investigating
Optics (Grade 8)
- http://www.linktolearning.com/optics/optics.htm
- Three lessons on Optics
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- Science
Activities for Light
- http://wwwbhs1.bham.wednet.edu/squalweb/departments/Cap/ScienceProjects/projligh.htm
- The following activities involve hands-on
experimentation with light ideas. Links to
activities form Nye Labs, the Exploratorium, and
Newton's Apple.
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- Shadow
Pictures at KinderArt (Grade 3-8)
- http://www.kinderart.com/drawing/shadow.shtml
- This activity teaches students about light,
shade, and shadow.
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- Solar
Matters (Grade 4-8)
- http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/ed/sm/index.htm
- This unit contains exercises using free or
low-cost materials that give students hands-on
experience with the principles of solar water
heating, photovoltaics, solar cooking and other
subjects.
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solar
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light wave
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refraction
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reflection
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diffraction
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mirror
|
lens
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color
|
speed of light
|
laser
|
wavelength
|
optic
|
electromagnetic radiation
|
radiation
|
eye
|
prism
|
rainbow
|
shadow
|
convex
|
concave
|
planar
|
camera
|
white light
|
hologram
|
light
|
sun
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optical illusion
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visible spectrum
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photon
|
dispersion
|
energy
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gamma ray
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particle
|
frequency
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magnifying glass
|
brightness
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suntan
|
solar
energy
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transverse wave
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sun
safety
|
photography
|
Aurora
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- Created by
Annette
Lamb and
Larry
Johnson,
1/99, Updated4/00.
Update Nancy
Smith
10/02
|