> Optics

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Practical Physics [1]

Optics provides lots of practical opportunities for students, most of which require a limited range of simple equipment. These activities progress from an introduction to rays and images, to the more complex arrangements in optical instruments, and an introduction to colour and spectra.

Experiment collections

Introduction to rays and images [2]
Pinhole camera and lens camera [3]
Investigations with ray streaks [4]
Reflection of light [5]
Refraction of light [6]
Optical instruments [7]
The eye [8]
Spectra and colour [9]

Guidance

From pinhole camera to lens camera [10]
Ray streaks and ray diagrams: some cautions [11]
Teaching ray optics [12]
Ray box or lamp? [13]
The electromagnetic spectrum [14]
Learning from spectra [15]
About telescope lenses [16]
The longitudinal lens formula and sign conventions [17]
Using a model telescope [18]
Dissectible model eye [19]