Lights, Lasers, Action
Teacher Notes for the Activities

A collection of optics activities produced with Education/Public Outreach funding from the Technology Development for NASA Explorer Missions and SOFIA for the Project High Index Grisms for Mid-infrared Spectroscopy

by MaryJean Tykoski, Mary Kay Hemenway, Daniel T. Jaffe

Mirrors and Reflection
Learn about how flat mirrors work—pdf

Jellaser
Learn about refraction with a mini-laser and colored Jell-O—pdf

Delta, Delta, Delta (middle school version)
Can you bounce a laser beam around a triangle?—pdf

Delta, Delta, Delta (high school version)
Construct a triangle and bounce the beam—pdf

Squared (middle school version)
Bounce the beam around a square—pdf

Squared (high school version)
Construct the square, then bounce the beam—pdf

Curved
Explore curved mirrors—pdf

Hot Air
Learn about the effects of the atmosphere on light—pdf

For further information, contact Mary Kay Hemenway