Different colors of the spectrum travel at different speeds through media, causing them to refract at different angles—which allows humans to see their colors. Through a simulation, pupils see how air, water, and other media bend light. They explore indices of refraction, play with prisms, change light sources, and create rainbows.  

Concepts

prisms, reflections, optics, light

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Ask learners to make predictions about where the light will bend with each substance, the angle measurements between substances, and the colors they will see
• Discuss the differences between refraction and reflection and objects that do both

Classroom Considerations

• Assumes pupils have some knowledge about the visible spectrum and about wavelengths

Pros

• Includes an introduction, a simulation about prisms, and a simulation using more tools
• Available in a plethora of different languages

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.3