This paper presents an argumentation-based demonstration experiment to teach the light-matter interaction using an observable laser beam and vacuum pump. In the experiment, the concept of darkness was addressed using a virtual space environment created by gradually decreasing the pressure inside a quartz glass bell jar with a vacuum pump. This…

The main goals of these activities are to help students learn how a convex lens can serve as a magnifying lens and how light travels and creates images. These explorations will introduce middle school students to different types of lenses and how they work. Students will observe and describe how lenses bend light that passes through them and how…

Many simple experiments can be performed in the classroom to explore the physics of vision. Students can learn of the two types of receptive cells (rods and cones), their distribution on the retina and the existence of the blind spot.