Name:
Computer Simulations of Optics Phenomenon
Date:
Task: Follow the instructions below to visit different websites about optics. Answer all
questions in the space provided.
1) What is Light?

Go to the website:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/electromagnetic/index.html

Use the Java Applet to see how light waves move and to see how changing the wavelength will
change the colour of the light.
Questions:
1) What is the range of wavelengths that produce red light?
2) What are the two components of an electromagnetic wave?
3) In the space below, sketch what an electromagnetic wave looks like, and label the parts.
2) Electromagnetic Radiation and Atoms

Go to the website: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/exciteemit/index.html

Use the Java Applet to see what happens in the atom when it absorbs and then releases light
energy.
Questions:
1) What happens to the electrons in the atom when the atom is given energy from light?
2) What happens to the electrons in the atom when the atom loses energy?
3) Refraction

Go to the website:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/refraction/refractionangles/index.html

Use the Java Applet to see what happens when light moves from one medium to another.
Questions:
1) What is the Refracted angle when green light (wavelength 542 nm) goes from air into Alcohol and the
angle of incidence is 52º?
2) What happens when white light moves from air into a diamond?
3) In the space below, sketch what happens when white light moves from air into Crown Glass, with an
angle of incidence of 33º.
4) Critical Angle


Go to the website: http://www.microscopy.fsu.edu/primer/java/refraction/criticalangle/
Use the Java Applet to see what happens when light moves from a dense medium to one that is
less dense.
Questions:
1) What is the Refracted angle when blue light (wavelength 501 nm) goes from water into air and the
angle of incidence is 39º?
2) If we keep the angle of incidence at 39º,
a) Does the refracted angle change if you change the wavelength of the light?
b) Does the refracted angle change if you change the material from water to Crown glass?
3) What is one angle of incidence that will give you total internal reflection when the light moves from
ice to air?
4) What is the critical angle when light moves from ice to air?
5) How people see Colour
The colours red, green, and blue are fundamental to human vision.

Go to the website:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.ht
ml

Use the Java Applet to see what happens when different colours are added to each other.
Questions:
1) What happens when you add green to red?
2) How can you get the following colours:
c) Pink
d) White