Optics – Science in School

Inspire

November 4, 2024 | Issue 70

Physics in Advent: The hands-on physics Advent calendar

Each December, Physics in Advent (PiA) opens the door to 24 fun and thought-provoking physics experiments, with the chance to win cool prizes!

Ages: 11-14, 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Chemistry, Engineering, General science, Mathematics, Physics, Events, Resources

Understand

June 7, 2018 | Issue 44

Reflecting the Universe: building the world’s largest telescopes

For hundreds of years, telescopes have helped astronomers unravel the mysteries of the Universe. But what’s involved in making – and maintaining – the complex instruments of today?

Ages: 11-14, 14-16;
Topics: Physics, Astronomy / space, Engineering

Teach

September 7, 2016 | Issue 37

Sharp eyes: how well can we really see?

Exploring visual acuity requires not only biological experiments, but also some understanding of the underlying physics.

Ages: 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Biology, Teach

Understand

September 7, 2015 | Issue 33

Structural colour: peacocks, Romans and Robert Hooke

For thousands of years, nature has produced brilliant visual effects. What is the physical principle behind it and how can we use it?

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics

Understand

February 20, 2013 | Issue 26

A thermometer that goes to 200 million degrees

Measuring the temperature inside a fusion reactor is no easy task. Find out how it’s done – and even simulate it in the classroom.

Ages: 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Chemistry

Understand

August 21, 2012 | Issue 24

More than meets the eye: the exotic, high-energy Universe

In the third article in this series on astronomy and the electromagnetic spectrum, learn about the exotic and powerful cosmic phenomena that astronomers investigate with X-ray and gamma-ray observatories, including the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL missions.

Ages: 11-14, 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, General science, Astronomy / space

Teach

August 21, 2012 | Issue 24

Seeing is believing: 3D illusions

To make the two-dimensional images that we see in print and on screen appear more real, we can hijack our brains to create the illusion of a third dimension, depth. These activities explore the physics that make this possible.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Biology, General science

Teach

February 22, 2012 | Issue 22

Build your own microscope: following in Robert Hooke’s footsteps

Nektarios Tsagliotis explains how to build an effective microscope using simple materials – enabling your students to discover a hidden world, just as Robert Hooke did in 1665.

Ages: 14-16, 16-19;
Topics: Physics, Biology

Teach

April 29, 2010 | Issue 14

Spectrometry at school: hands-on experiments

Nataša Gros, Tim Harrison, Irena Štrumbelj Drusany and Alma Kapun Dolinar introduce a selection of experiments with a simple spectrometer designed especially for schools – and give details of how to perform one of the activities.

Ages: 16-19;
Topics: Chemistry

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