The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Algebra Based On-Level Physics » Light Waves and Color

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


 

Day 2 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: The Photoelectric Effect with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and post-lab, 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
  4. Pair Practice: Polarization Think Sheet
 
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. Science Reasoning Center: Electromagnetic Spectrum
    Do and post-lab
  2. Discuss Electromagnetic spectrum; patterns for wavelength, frequency, and energy; discuss visible light spectrum
  3. Pair Practice: Light Waves and Matter Think Sheet
 
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. Introduce Color
    Discuss the light wavelengths and color, ROYGBIV; the eye (retina, cones, etc.); incident-absorbed-reflected model; use Reflection, Transmission, and Color Think Sheet (selected Qs)
  2. Pair Practice: complete Reflection, Transmission, and Color Think Sheet
  3. Physics Interactives: RGB Color Addition with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
  4. Discuss primary colors of light; color wheel; complementary colors; color subtraction; use of incident-absorbed-reflected model to explain the colors we see
 
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. Review Color Addition
  2. Lab 2: Taking Away From RGB
    Do and process; discuss rules of color subtraction; color wheel and color equations
  3. Pair Practice: Color Addition and Subtraction Think Sheet
  4. Concept Builder: Color Addition and Subtraction
 
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. 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
  2. Pair Practice: Pigments and Paints Think Sheet (Q#1-5)
  3. Concept Checker: Painting with CMY
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Concept Builder: Color Pigments




 

Day 8 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Stage Lighting with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process; discuss what happens when the incident light isn't white? Do some examples with an incident-absorbed-reflected diagram; selected Qs from Viewed in Another Light Think Sheet
  2. Pair Practice: Viewed in Another Light Think Sheet
  3. Concept Checker: Stage Lighting
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Finish Concept Checker: Stage Lighting (if not completed in class)
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission LC5 on Color Subtraction




 

Day 9 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 3: Filtering Away
  2. Discuss filters; transition to the incident-absorbed-transmitted model; do some examples (Q#6 on Pigments and Paints Think Sheet)
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission LC8 on Color Filters
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Review: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Colors: Lesson 2, Part e
  2. Concept Builder: Color Filters




 

Day 10 of Light Waves and Color

Lesson Plan
  1. Demonstration of colored shadows using RGB Lights; emphasize color subtraction and color addition
  2. Physics Interactives: Colored Shadows
    Have students construct and label a diagram of their observations; do Shadows Think Sheet
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission LC9 on Shadows
  4. Review unit
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work