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Showing results 1 to 13 of 13
CD Spinner
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In this activity, learners create a simple “top” from a CD, marble and bottle cap, and use it as a spinning platform for a variety of illusion-generating patterns.
Water Sphere Lens
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In this activity about light and refraction, learners make a lens and magnifying glass by filling a bowl with water.
Kaleidoscope
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In this activity, learners build inexpensive kaleidoscopes using transparency paper and foil (instead of mirrors).
Upside-Down Town
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In this activity, learners explore ray optics. Learners discover that they can use a magnifying glass to create an upside-down image.
Fading Dot
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In this activity, learners play with a fuzzy-colored dot that has no distinct edges seems to disappear. As learners stare at the dot, its color appears to blend with the colors surrounding it.
How Our Environment Affects Color Vision
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In this lab (Activity #1 on page), learners explore how we see color.
Personal Pinhole Theater
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Have you ever heard of a camera without a lens? In this activity, learners create a pinhole camera out of simple materials. They'll see the world in a whole new way: upside down and backwards!
Moiré Patterns
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In this activity about light and perception, learners create and observe moire patterns.
Benham's Disk
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In this activity, learners make a Benham Top to explore visual illusions and optics.
Seeing in the Dark
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In this activity (17th on the page), learners investigate why you cannot see colors in dim light.
Thaumatrope
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In this activity, learners make an optical illusion toy from the 1800s to explore persistence of vision.
Gelatin Optic Fibers
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In this activity, learners make optical fibers out of strips of gelatin.
X-Ray Spectra
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In this activity, learners use simple materials to simulate the effect of X-rays in a safe way. Learners place a piece of window screen over a box and a cardboard pattern on top of the screen.