Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light

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

This resource contains a set of six activities on the properties of light, designed to be used as learning centers in middle school or high school physical science classrooms. The stations include lessons on diffraction, transparency and translucence, rainbows, spinning disks, refraction, and the relationship between light and heat. The activities were designed to be economical and simple to set up, using common objects such as thermometers, styrofoam cups, flashlights, candles, holiday tree lights, and aluminum foil. Students rotate from one station to the next to observe and analyze each unique property. Allow 2-3 class periods, depending upon the length of the class.

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/properties...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Practices - Active Learning = Cooperative Learning Optics - Geometrical Optics	- Middle School - High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Lesson/Lesson Plan

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, color disks, diffraction, diffraction grating, lesson plan, light activities, light refraction, optics, optics activities, prism, ray optics, refraction, refractive index
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created May 18, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: May 18, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: February 14, 2008
Other Collections:: The Physics Front

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=8958">Davidson, Michael. Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light. Tallahassee: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, February 14, 2008.</a>

AIP Format

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

AJP/PRST-PER

M. Davidson, Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light (National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, 2001), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/properties.html>.

APA Format

Davidson, M. (2008, February 14). Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from National High Magnetic Field Laboratory: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/properties.html

Chicago Format

Davidson, Michael. Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light. Tallahassee: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, February 14, 2008. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/properties.html (accessed 2 May 2025).

MLA Format

Davidson, Michael. Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light. Tallahassee: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 2001. 14 Feb. 2008. 2 May 2025 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/properties.html>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Michael Davidson", Title = {Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light}, Publisher = {National High Magnetic Field Laboratory}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {2 May 2025}, Month = {February 14, 2008}, Year = {2001} }

Refer Export Format

%A Michael Davidson %T Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light %D February 14, 2008 %I National High Magnetic Field Laboratory %C Tallahassee %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/properties.html %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %D February 14, 2008 %T Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light %I National High Magnetic Field Laboratory %V 2025 %N 2 May 2025 %8 February 14, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/properties.html

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

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Molecular Expressions: Investigating Special Properties of Light:

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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