For Ages 10 and Up | Optics for Kids

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Build your own spectrometer and you’ll not only see a rainbow, but you’ll also find out how they’re made!</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/homemade-spectroscope"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/homemade-spectroscope">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Why do things glow in the dark?</h5> <p>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?</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/why-do-things-glow-in-the-dark"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/why-do-things-glow-in-the-dark">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Glow in the Dark Jell-O</h5> <p>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!</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/jell-o"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/jell-o">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Why is the sky blue?</h5> <p>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.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/why-is-the-sky-blue"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/why-is-the-sky-blue">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Fluorescent Olive Oil</h5> <p>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.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/flourescent-olive-oil"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/flourescent-olive-oil">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Inverted Spoon</h5> <p>This activity will show how light interacts with mirrors through the use of water.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/inverted-spoon"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/inverted-spoon">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Critical Angle</h5> <p>This experiment will help you understand the angle light makes during refraction.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/critical-angle"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/critical-angle">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Lens Activity: Looking Through Lenses</h5> <p>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.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/lens-activity-looking-through-lenses"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/lens-activity-looking-through-lenses">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Lose a Glass in a Glass</h5> <p>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.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/lose-a-glass-in-a-glass"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/lose-a-glass-in-a-glass">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Make a Light Fountain</h5> <p>Use this activity to illustrate light reflection, specifically total internal reflection, as well as how fiber optics work.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/make-a-light-fountain"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/make-a-light-fountain">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Make a Telescope</h5> <p>This activity demonstrates how to make a simple telescope using two lenses and a cardboard tube.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/make-a-telescope"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/make-a-telescope">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Mirrors and Images</h5> <p>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.</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/mirrors-and-images"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/mirrors-and-images">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> <div class="card card-outline-light"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-header mt-0">Jell-O lens</h5> <p>Use Jell-O to make your own magnifying glass!</p> </div> <a href="/activities/10-and-up/jello-lens"> <img class="d-flex align-self-start link-item__image" src="https://dg3pr45u97c3u.cloudfront.net/o4k/media/o4kmedia/siteimages/o4k-default-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Default thumbnail: three prisms splitting light on a surface" /> </a> </div> <a class="btn btn-material btn-explore" href="/activities/10-and-up/jello-lens">EXPLORE</a> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </main> </div> <footer class="o4k-footer mt-3"> <p class="text-center">Copyright © 2024</p> <p class="text-center mb-0"> 3 <a class="o4k-footer__link" href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> |  <a class="o4k-footer__link" href="/contact-us">Contact Us</a> |  <a class="o4k-footer__link" href="https://www.optica.org" target="_blank">Optica</a> </p> </footer> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/combine/npm/jquery@3.6.0,npm/popper.js@1.16.1,npm/bootstrap@4.5.0"></script> <script src="/js/bundle.js"></script> <script src="/_content/Kentico.Content.Web.Rcl/Scripts/jquery-3.5.1.js"></script> <script src="/_content/Kentico.Content.Web.Rcl/Scripts/jquery.unobtrusive-ajax.js"></script> <script src="/_content/Kentico.Content.Web.Rcl/Content/Bundles/Public/systemFormComponents.min.js"></script> </body> </html>

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For Ages 10 and Up | Optics for Kids