Light, Reflection & Refraction

Light, Reflection & Refraction
Steve Beeson, Arizona State University

Of all our senses, sight is probably our most important and the sense we probably take most for granted. How and why can we see anything? What is "light"? Why does it let us see the world around us? In other words, what are some fundamental properties of light that allow us to visualize our world? The goal of this exercise is to come to terms with the concept of "light" and to explore some of the properties of this ever-present phenomenon.

Objectives

To observe the path of light through air and materials

To observe how light reflects from objects

To examine how light behaves at the interface between different materials

To explore the concept of total internal reflection and to recognize the difference between reflection and refraction

Materials

Optical Society of America Optics Discovery Kit

Flashlight

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