Stations of Light
Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. While learning how a magnifying glass works, students see how the orientation of an image changes with the distance of the lens from its focal point. They also discover how a prism works by refracting light and making rainbows. And, students investigate the polar nature of light using sunglasses and polarized light film.
Students examine the behavior of light (refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization)Copyright ScienceGiant 2020. Free for commercial use.
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Engineers apply their knowledge of the properties of light and light energy to the creation of many useful products and tools. Civil and structural engineers study light properties to determine the optimum type of windows to install in a building. Engineers also use their knowledge of light energy, lenses and prisms as they design eye glasses, binoculars, cameras, medical equipment, satellites, optics and lasers. By understanding polarized light, engineers have created laser applications, electron microscope imaging and medical imaging techniques, in addition to sunglasses and camera filters that reduce the glare from the sun.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Understand the phenomenon of refraction — that when light travels across the border of two transparent media (such as air, glass, Lucite, etc.), the path of light bends.
- Understand that light is made up of waves, and that waves at different wavelengths create different colors.
- Understand that a prism sorts a light beam into its various wavelengths, appearing as a rainbow of colored light.
- Explain that there are also waves that cannot be seen by the human eye that affect our daily lives. For example, we wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect our skin and eyes from ultraviolet waves.