For Ages 10 and Up
Glowing Water
This activity will show kids how light reflects and bends as it comes in contract with water.
Homemade Spectroscope
Why wait for a rainy day to see a rainbow? Build your own spectrometer and you’ll not only see a rainbow, but you’ll also find out how they’re made!
Why do things glow in the dark?
Have you ever had glow in the dark stars and planets on the ceiling in your room? How does it work? Why do the stars still glow after the lights are turned off?
Glow in the Dark Jell-O
If you’ve ever wanted those glow in the dark stickers, you will love this activity! Kids will be able to learn about ultra violet light and florescence by making glow in the dark Jell-O!
Why is the sky blue?
Contrary to popular belief, the sky is not blue because it reflects the ocean. Rather, light itself is being reflected. This activity help kids further understand that concept.
Fluorescent Olive Oil
You may notice how water or other liquids tend to distort images when submerged. In this experiment, you will use oil and a laser to find out why this happens.
Inverted Spoon
This activity will show how light interacts with mirrors through the use of water.
Critical Angle
This experiment will help you understand the angle light makes during refraction.
Lens Activity: Looking Through Lenses
A lens is a piece of transparent material typically with at least one curved surface, which refracts, or bends, light rays coming from an object. In this activity you will look at only two kinds of lenses, convex and concave, and observe their similarities and differences.
Lose a Glass in a Glass
Use this activity to demonstrate the role of indexes of refraction in our ability to differentiate the appearance of different materials. Note: adult supervision is recommended for this activity because it involves paint thinner.
Make a Light Fountain
Use this activity to illustrate light reflection, specifically total internal reflection, as well as how fiber optics work.
Make a Telescope
This activity demonstrates how to make a simple telescope using two lenses and a cardboard tube.
Mirrors and Images
What is it that lets us see objects? Some objects, such as the sun, give off their own light. Most objects, however, do not. These objects must reflect light in order to be seen.
Jell-O lens
Use Jell-O to make your own magnifying glass!