Teacher Resources
The Physics Classroom has been devoted to helping students, teachers, and classrooms since the 1990s. We are as passionate about that mission now as we have ever been. If you are a teacher of Physics or Physical Science, we encourage you to use our Video Tutorial with your students. And we also encourage you to consider the use of other resources on our website that coordinate with the video. We have listed a few below to help you get started.
Curriculum Corner, Refraction and Lenses
Our Curriculum Corner section of the website includes a large collection of Think Sheets that make great complements to the video. Each Think Sheet focuses on a single concept and is structured to incrementally guide a student through the concept. They make for great follow-ups to the video, good cooperative group activities, and inclusions in any lesson plan. And if you need source documents (Microsoft Words), extended licensing rights, and solutions, consider the purchase of our low-cost
Solutions Guide download. Here's a good Think Sheet that fits the video:
Refraction of Light
Physics Interactives, Refraction and Lenses Section, Refraction
Our refraction simulation provides a great environment for students to explore what happens when light reaches the boundary between two materials. Combine the simulation with the use of one of our student activity sheets and the
accompanying Concept Checker and you will have the start of a great lesson plan.
Physics Interactives, Refraction and Lenses Section, Least Time Principle
Our Least Time Principle simulation centers around the classic questiion of what path does the light guard take to reach the drowning swimmer in the least amount of time? Students use a trial and error method to determine the optimal entry point - the point that takes the least amount of time. Once found, the angle of approach and departure from the boundary and reported. Students then relate the angles to the running and the walking speed of the life guard. This is a great inquiry-driven activity.
Minds On Physics, Refraction and Lenses Module, Mission RL1
Student persistence with Minds On Physics combined with reflective thinking and the use of our Help function will put any student at the top of the class. Mission RL1 on the topic of refraction is short and a great concept development tool for students.
Multimedia Physics Studios, Ray Optics Chapter, The Broken Pencil
This GIF animation and accompanying explanation goes into detail about the broken pencil phenomenon. We have an idea for
a lab exercise that may be a good preface to the animation.
The Physics Classroom Tutorial, Refraction and the Ray Model of Light, Lesson 1, Boundary Behavior
Our written tutorial pages form the basis of most videos. So when a student needs a quick reference, the Tutorial page is a great place to start. This page provides coverage of the first several slides of the video. Many teachers provide links to our Tutorial pages from their course management systems.
The Physics Classroom Tutorial, Refraction and the Ray Model of Light, Lesson 1, Refraction and Sight
The refraction of light leads to a variety of interesting phenomenon. This page describes, illustrates, and explains several of them in much more detail than the video does.