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Title:

Index of Refraction

Url:

https://wisconsin.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ate10.sci.phys.energy....

Publisher:

WGBH Educational Foundation

Description: Refraction is an important behavior of light that can be used to explain the operation of lenses, prisms, and optical fiber, as well as natural phenomena such as rainbows and mirages. The index of refraction, or refractive index, is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a material. The index of refraction is an important property of optical materials and one that can be easily measured in the laboratory.

This lesson begins with a video that introduces the concept of refraction. Students learn firsthand how when a wave of light travels from one medium to another, the change in the wave's speed leads to a change in its wavelength and the bending of the wave. Next, students investigate index of refraction through an interactive media asset, research, and a class discussion. Following a video about the index of refraction and Snell's law, students work in groups to conduct their own laboratory experiment to measure the index of refraction of gelatin (or plastic).

Note: This is the first of two optics lesson plans. You may want to follow this lesson with the Fiber Optics Lesson Plan.

LC Classification:

Science -- Physics -- Optics. Light -- Physical optics -- Fiber optics
Science -- Physics -- Optics. Light -- Physical optics -- Refraction
Technology -- Technology (General) -- Technical education. Technical schools

GEM Subject:

Science -- Technology
Science -- Physics
Vocational Education -- Technical

Key Concept:

Physics -- Optics and light
Physics -- Reflection and refraction
Electrical engineering -- Fiber optics

Resource Type:

Reference Material
Audio/Visual -- Sound
Instructional Material
Audio/Visual -- Movie/Animation
Instructional Material -- Lesson/Lesson Plan

Format:

Video -- HTML5
Document -- HTML

Audience:

Educator
Learner

Education Level:

High School
Higher Education
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Lower Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Lower Division)
Vocational/Professional Development Education

Language:

English

Rights:

WGBH Educational Foundation

Access Rights:

Free access

Screenshot

Full Image

Source Type:

ATE Project

Source:

ATE Projects

Full Record Views:

Resource URL Clicks:

Cumulative Rating:

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