Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection

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written by Michael Davidson
published by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

This is a multimedia lesson plan appropriate for middle school and high school on the topic of light refraction. Students work cooperatively to learn how light refracts through a prism, using a variety of natural and artificial light settings. An accompanying Java simulation allows them to explore the refraction of light as it moves from a vacuum to different mediums (air, water, glass, diamond, and lead). By switching to monochromatic light, users can see how the wavelength and frequency of the light wave change with its color. Also included is a historical vignette that details Isaac Newton's work with prisms.

This item is part of a larger guidebook for teachers on the topic of light and optics, developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. SEE RELATED ITEMS on this page for a link to the full index.

Please note that this resource requires Java.

https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.htm...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Practices - Active Learning = Cooperative Learning Optics - Color - Geometrical Optics = Refraction - Flat Surfaces	- Middle School - High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Interactive Simulation = Lesson/Lesson Plan = Tutorial

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Educators - Learners	- text/html - application/java	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2001 National High Magnetic Field Laboratory-2008
Keywords:: color, lesson plan, light refraction, optics, prism, refraction, refractive index, tutorial
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created May 18, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: May 18, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: January 18, 2008
Other Collections:: The Physics Front

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=8957">Davidson, Michael. Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection. Tallahassee: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, January 18, 2008.</a>

AIP Format

M. Davidson, (National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, 2001), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html).

AJP/PRST-PER

M. Davidson, Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection (National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, 2001), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html>.

APA Format

Davidson, M. (2008, January 18). Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from National High Magnetic Field Laboratory: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html

Chicago Format

Davidson, Michael. Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection. Tallahassee: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, January 18, 2008. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html (accessed 1 May 2025).

MLA Format

Davidson, Michael. Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection. Tallahassee: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 2001. 18 Jan. 2008. 1 May 2025 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Michael Davidson", Title = {Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection}, Publisher = {National High Magnetic Field Laboratory}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {1 May 2025}, Month = {January 18, 2008}, Year = {2001} }

Refer Export Format

%A Michael Davidson %T Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection %D January 18, 2008 %I National High Magnetic Field Laboratory %C Tallahassee %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %D January 18, 2008 %T Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection %I National High Magnetic Field Laboratory %V 2025 %N 1 May 2025 %8 January 18, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/prisms.html

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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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Molecular Expressions: Light, Prisms, and the Rainbow Connection:

Is Part Of Molecular Expressions: Online Activity Guidebook for Teachers

This is a link to the full Activity Guidebook for Teachers by the authors of Molecular Expressions. It contains more than 20 multimedia activities and explorations on the topic of light and optics, designed for middle school and high school classrooms.

relation by Caroline Hall

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