Light Waves and Color

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.


   
 
 
 

Day 1 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce unit
  2. Briefly discuss the dual nature of light
  3. Science Reasoning Center: Models of Light
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 1, Part a-c
  2. If not done, complete Models of Light


 

Day 2 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: The Photoelectric Effect with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process, emphasizing the evidence for light behaving as a particle (the rest of the unit focuses on light as a wave)
  2. Discuss wave behaviors of light: interference, polarization; demonstrations
  3. Physics Interactives: Polarization by Reflection as a demonstration
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 1, Part d
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission LC2 on Polarization


 

Day 3 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Review polarization: then Pair Practice: Polarization Think Sheet
    Complete; check answers. Then ...
  2. Science Reasoning Center: Electromagnetic Spectrum
    Do and process
  3. Discuss Electromagnetic spectrum; patterns for wavelength, frequency, and energy; discuss visible light spectrum
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission LC1 on Electromagnetic and Visible Light Spectrum


 

Day 4 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 1 - Diluted by Distance
    Collect data, discuss results; practice some inverse square law thinking
  2. Science Reasoning Center: Light Intensity
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Concept Builder: Light Intensity


 

Day 5 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Quick Quiz on Learning Outcomes #1 - #4
  2. Introduce Color
    Discuss the light wavelengths and color, ROYGBIV; the eye (retina, cones, etc.); incident-absorbed-reflected model; use Incident-Absorbed-Reflected Model Think Sheet (selected Qs)
  3. Physics Interactives: RGB Color Addition with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part d
  2. Concept Checker: RGB Color Addition


 

Day 6 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 2 - Taking Away From RGB
    Do and process; save Conclusion until after lesson
  2. Discuss primary colors of light; discuss rules of color subtraction; color wheel and color equations; complementary colors; color subtraction; use of incident-absorbed-reflected model to explain the colors we see
  3. Pair Practice: complete Incident-Absorbed-Reflected Model Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission LC4 on Complementary Colors of Light


 

Day 7 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Pair Practice: Color Addition and Subtraction Think Sheet
  2. Concept Builder: Color Addition and Subtraction
  3. Physics Interactives: Painting with CMY with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process; discuss what do pigments do? Do some examples with an incident-absorbed-reflected diagram
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Concept Checker: Painting with CMY


 

Day 8 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided/Pair/Individual Practice: Pigments and Color Subtraction Think Sheet
    Do and check answers; then begin ...
  2. Concept Builder: Color Pigments
  3. Physics Interactives: Stage Lighting with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Concept Checker: Stage Lighting


 

Day 9 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 3 - M and Ms Activity
    Complete; process ...
  2. Discuss what happens when the incident light isn't white? Do some examples with an incident-absorbed-reflected diagram; selected Qs from When the Incident Light's not White Think Sheet
  3. Pair Practice: complete When the Incident Light's not White Think Sheet
    Complete; then ...
  4. Complete Lab 3 write-up
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission LC5 on Color Subtraction


 

Day 10 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 4 - Filtering Away
  2. Discuss filters; transition to the incident-absorbed-transmitted model; do some examples from Incident-Absorbed-Transmitted Model Think Sheet
  3. Pair Practice: complete Incident-Absorbed-Transmitted Model Think Sheet
    Complete and check answers; if time allows, start ...
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission LC8 on Color Filters
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission LC8 on Color Filters


 

Day 11 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Demonstration of colored shadows using RGB Lights; emphasize color subtraction and color addition principles
  2. Physics Interactives: Colored Shadows
    Have students construct and label a diagram of their observations; do Shadows Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Color Filters
  4. Discuss Unit Test

Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work