Light and Optics

• Science: Methods and Techniques: Microscopy  (80)
• Science: Physics: Optics  (277)

Cool Cosmos - Offers lessons and activities for infrared light. Also, includes has online tutorials, games and graphic galleries that related to this topic.

Fraunhofer Lines - Prominent lines in the spectrum of the sun are shown, together with their corresponding wavelengths.

History of Optics - Timeline of optics-related historical moments.

How Stuff Works: Light - Seven-segment detailed explanation uses drawings and animations to show how light works and how photons are generated, with many related links.

Moiré Phenomenon - A book and a downloadable moire demonstration kit for printing on transparencies.

Molecular Expressions: Images from the Microscope - Features hundreds of photomicrographs (photographs through the microscope) of everything from superconductors and high-tech materials to ice cream and beer. Also includes tutorials about microscopy and optics.

Oatmeal Box Pinhole Photography - Photo gallery plus directions to make a pinhole camera, take pictures and develop them. Also, links to other pinhole camera sites.

Optical Fibres Project - How optical fibers work, and information on reflection, refraction, Snell's Law, total internal reflection and critical angles.

Optics Exercises and Tutorial - (Univ of Florida). A sample electronic lecture or worksheet.

Optics for Kids - An overview of the basics of optics suitable for elementary school children. Also discusses careers in science and engineering.

Polarized Light - Fascinating facts about polarized light, from rainbows to beetles, from Viking navigation to LCD displays. Myths and truth about polarized sunglasses. Also a shop with polarized-only items.

Reflections In Choppy Water - Why does light reflecting off a lake or ocean appear to be "smeared" into a long strip?.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) - Learn about the scanning electron microscope and its uses.

Tux Teaches Photonics - A collection of information, lessons and quizzes about photonics, taught by Tux.

WebTOP - A 3D interactive computer graphics system that instructors can use to help teach optics, and that students can use to simulate and visualize optical phenomena to help them learn about optics.