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PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5
published by the PhET
In this mobile-ready simulation, students have access to robust tools to explore refraction phenomena. The introductory activity focuses on refraction of light between two media with different indices of refraction. Newly added features include speed, light, and light intensity tools to investigate how speed and wavelength of light changes in different media. View the light as a single laser beam or as a wave. Finally, click on "Prisms" to see how incident rays behave upon hitting differently-shaped prisms. Can you figure out how to make a rainbow?
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Optics
- Geometrical Optics
= Rainbow
= Refraction - Flat Surfaces
= Refractive Index
= Speed of Light
- Middle School
- High School
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- text/html
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© 2017 University of Colorado
Keywords:
Refractive Index, Snell's Law, geometric optics, refraction
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created December 22, 2017 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:
December 22, 2017 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 22, 2017
Other Collections:

Next Generation Science Standards

Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer (MS-PS4)

Students who demonstrate understanding can: (6-8)
  • Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials. (MS-PS4-2)

Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer (HS-PS4)

Students who demonstrate understanding can: (9-12)
  • Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. (HS-PS4-1)

Disciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)

Wave Properties (PS4.A)
  • The wavelength and frequency of a wave are related to one another by the speed of travel of the wave, which depends on the type of wave and the medium through which it is passing. (9-12)
Electromagnetic Radiation (PS4.B)
  • The path that light travels can be traced as straight lines, except at surfaces between different transparent materials (e.g., air and water, air and glass) where the light path bends. (6-8)
  • A wave model of light is useful for explaining brightness, color, and the frequency-dependent bending of light at a surface between media. (6-8)

Crosscutting Concepts (K-12)

Patterns (K-12)
  • Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships. (6-8)
Systems and System Models (K-12)
  • Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions. (6-8)

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)

Analyzing and Interpreting Data (K-12)
  • Analyzing data in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to introducing more detailed statistical analysis, the comparison of data sets for consistency, and the use of models to generate and analyze data. (9-12)
    • Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution. (9-12)
Developing and Using Models (K-12)
  • Modeling in 9–12 builds on K–8 and progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural and designed worlds. (9-12)
    • Use a model based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or between components of a system. (9-12)
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
(PhET, Boulder, 2017), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light).
AJP/PRST-PER
PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5 (PhET, Boulder, 2017), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light>.
APA Format
PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5. (2017, December 22). Retrieved March 18, 2025, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light
Chicago Format
PhET. PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5. Boulder: PhET, December 22, 2017. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light (accessed 18 March 2025).
MLA Format
PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5. Boulder: PhET, 2017. 22 Dec. 2017. 18 Mar. 2025 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Title = {PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5}, Publisher = {PhET}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {18 March 2025}, Month = {December 22, 2017}, Year = {2017} }
Refer Export Format

%T PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5 %D December 22, 2017 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D December 22, 2017 %T PhET Simulation: Bending Light - HTML5 %I PhET %V 2025 %N 18 March 2025 %8 December 22, 2017 %9 text/html %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/bending-light


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Citation Source Information

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

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