Edit Lesson: Reflection and refraction

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Title:	Reflection and refraction
Description:	In this lesson students investigate reflection and refraction of light. By altering the angle of incidence the refraction and reflection of a glass object is investigated, including total reflection. Index of refraction can easily be changed and its effect immediately inves- tigated. An optical fibre can easily be created and its influence on light of different colors can be investigated.
Target:	Key Stage 1 Key Stage 2 Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 Key Stage 5 Key Stage 6
Category:	Demonstration Exercise Laboratory Group work
Discipline:	Static forces Dynamic forces Friction Gravity Motion Energy Momentum Optics Fluids and gases Thermodynamics Work
Learning objectives:	Have a basic understanding of reflection and refraction Understand that different indices of refraction influences light differently Have an understanding of how to make a parallel displacement of a light beam Have an understanding of when total reflection occurs *Have an understanding of how light can travel in an optical fiber.
In class:	Discuss how different materials affect a beam of light. Discuss how a beam of light can be reflected, refracted and absorbed. What is total reflection? Discuss how this can be visualized and explored in Algodoo. Let the students create scenes in Algodoo using the suggestions you came up with together or let them use their own ideas. Help the students make decisions and ask guiding questions. Encourage the students to follow the procedure '''Create – Predict – Interact – evaluate'''. Allow the students to follow-up and share their experiences in class after the simulation.

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Steps in Algodoo

Headline/Step:	Create a scene
Describe:	Create glass blocks by using the rectangle tool.
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Headline/Step:	Make a prediction
Describe:	How will the glass influence the laser beam? What happens when light from air hits the glass? What happens when light from glass hits air?
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Headline/Step:	Run/interact
Describe:	Point a laser beam towards the glass blocks. Rotate the laser to change the angle of incidence. Change the index of refraction.
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Headline/Step:	Evaluate
Describe:	What does a high index of refraction do to the light compared to a low index of refraction? What is the difference between light hitting an air-glass boundary and light hitting a glass-air boundary? Can you find an angle of total reflection when all the light reflects and none transmits?
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Headline/Step:	Revise scene
Describe:	Create optical fibers of glass by using the brush tool. Make different shapes of fibers.
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Headline/Step:	Run/interact
Describe:	Can the optical fiber have any shape? Do all colors of light work?
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Headline/Step:	Make a prediction
Describe:	Add lasers and direct it into the fibers. Rotate the laser and investigate what happens to the light beams as it travels through the fiber. Does the beam always go through the whole length of the fiber?
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Headline/Step:	Evaluate
Describe:	Explain how the light travels through the fiber. What happens when white light is used?
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Edit Lesson: Reflection and refraction

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