Physics Demonstrations in Light, Part 1

30 minutes

Physics Demonstrations in Light is a two-part video program which presents a full range of demonstrations in the areas of geometrical optics, physical optics, and the nature of light. The program was developed in an effort to give physics teachers a comprehensive collection of video demonstrations, supplementing the instructor’s live classroom demonstrations. The program was designed to meet the needs of high school physics classes as well as introductory level college physics classes.

Program Format

Individual demonstrations are 3 to 4 minutes in length and can be quickly accessed using the program's on-screen indexing system. The indexing system allows the teacher to select a particular demonstration and show it at the appropriate time during a unit on light. The accompanying teacher’s guide gives additional data, information, and suggestions on using the demonstrations to promote further classroom discussion.

Demonstration Selection and Filming Techniques

The selection of demonstrations includes those which are difficult to perform in the classroom and those requiring apparatus not readily accessible to many physics teachers. Detailed observation of the demonstrations is accomplished through use of a filming approach which focuses solely on the apparatus, allowing the teacher to utilize the program in a way which is consistent with his or her personal instructional approach. The voice over narration eliminates the on-screen presenter and allows attention to be directed to the physical behaviour being studied.

Contents of Part 1:

Propagation of Light: Determination of the Speed of Light
Visible and Infrared Spectrum: White Light Dispersed on a Spectrum Recorder
Inverse Square Law: Light Intensity at Increasing Distances
Refraction/Total Internal Reflection: Light Incident on a Water-Air Interface
Refraction/Schlieren Image: Variations in the Index of Refraction of Air
Refraction: Simulation of Atmospheric Refraction
Rayleigh Scattering: Blue Sky and Sunset Simulation
Laser Theory: High Power CO₂ Laser.