Materials List: Exploiting Polarization:
Designing More Effective Sunglasses

Each group needs:

  • 1 pair of inexpensive, unpolarized sunglasses; such as 12 for $9 at Amazon
  • paper and pencils
  • 2 plastic Petri dishes, 5-10 cm in diameter size
  • 1 6 x 6-inch polarizing filter per group, such for $10.50 each at Educational Innovations
  • light sensor, such as the GoDirect® Light and Color Sensor for $79 by Vernier; alternatively, share one sensor with the entire class
  • computer/tablet/cell phone, Bluetooth and free Graphical Analysis 4 software, downloaded from https://www.vernier.com/products/software/graphical-analysis/; to use the Vernier light sensor
  • hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
  • scissors
  • (optional) pieces of thick cardboard (or other material) to protect tabletops from hot glue
  • Sunglasses Design Grading Rubric, one per student
  • Project Reflection Handout, one per student

To share with the entire class:

  • UV blocking film, such as a 36-in x 6.5-ft roll of UB blocking window film for $17 at Amazon
  • assorted pipe cleaner chenille stems, such as 200 6-mm x 12-inch pipe cleaners for $8 at Amazon
  • black plastic garbage bags
  • 1 plastic protractor
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/mis-2231-designing-sunglasses-light-polarization-sensor