UNIT C: Light and Optical Systems

Unit Checklist

  Unit C: Key Ideas

Focus On: Light and Optical Systems

This unit has three sections that are dedicated to helping you understand the basics of light and optical systems. Each section has a key idea indicated by its title, and each section is divided into lessons. Click each key idea tab to view the lesson titles and some key questions you will investigate.

 
Section 1 Key Idea: Understanding vision and optical devices requires a knowledge of how light behaves.

Lesson C1: Solving the Riddle of Light and Vision
Key Question – How has human understanding of light changed over time?

Lesson C2: Light Properties and Technologies
Key Question – What are some modern technologies that use light?

Lesson C3: Optical Devices
Key Question – How do microscopes, telescopes, and binoculars use light to make images?



Section 2 Key Idea: Light behaves in very predictable ways.

Lesson C4: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption
Key Question – How does light interact with other materials?

Lesson C5: Mathematics of Light
Key Question – What are some predictable patterns of light motion?

Lesson C6: Refraction and the Speed of Light
Key Question – Why does light change speed when it travels through different substances?

Lesson C7:  The Many Uses of Lenses
Key Question – How do lenses form images?

Lesson C8:  The Wave Model of Light
Key Question – What forms of electromagnetic radiation exist in addition to light?



Section 3 Key Idea: Eyes and cameras use light to capture images.

Lesson C9:  Eyes and Cameras
Key Question – How are eyes and cameras similar?

Lesson C10: Vision-enhancing Technologies
Key Question – How do light technologies help people see better?

Lesson C11: Eyes of Other Animals
Key Question – How are eyes in other animals similar and different to human eyes?

Lesson C12: The Future of Light Technology
Key Question – How do we create digital images with light?