Geometric Optics Unit
The more practice and experience you can provide the students with optics bench simulations, drawing ray diagrams, and on an actual optics bench if possible- the better!
Optics Bench Simulation
This Physicsclassroom.com simulation, and the two amazing activities linked beneath it, are my anchor for this unit. I tell students to program this simulation into their memory, and they thank me for it. The more time they spend seeing this simulation, the better! I use Exercise 1 before the first lecture, and Exercise 2 as half class (so they actually do it) and half homework (cuz its tedious) after the lecture.
I interrupt this lecture so students can use the PhysicsClassroom.com Who Can See Who Interactive and practice with Plane mirrors- some of the other visualizations in these interactives can also be super useful to show to students, such as the Image Formation Ones.
In the lecture, I allow students to monkey-see, monkey-do the ray diagrams, walking around to ensure they are all correct- then immediately following the lecture we do independent practice on whiteboards!
In order to demonstrate these concepts, I like to use the pHet Bending Light Simulation. For some reason, apparent depth is a struggle mathematically for me- I always need to review it prior to the lecture!
Refraction of Jello Lab
Protip- Make sure you also make jello for the students to eat- not eating the jello is like torture for all.
I make jello ‘jigglers’ in sheet pan and use a half circle cookie cutter to cut out semi-circles, then put them in to baggies to transport to school and pass out to students! I have also made in the half-circle petri-dishes available from some science supply companies, but one year I didn’t have those- the jigglers worked fine!
When it comes to lens, it’s practice, practice, practice! The more ways and times they are exposed to the ray diagrams, the more intuitive they will become.
Physicsclassroom.com Concept Builders- For this lecture, it’s all about the converging lense L.O.S.T. art one!