Water turns the arrow (Yina Yang)

Author

Yina Yang

Principle(s) Illustrated

1. Light Refraction

2. Speed of light

3. Optical Density'

Standards

• MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

• HS-PS4-1 Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media

Questioning Script

Prior knowledge & experience:

Humans see objects because light is reflected off of objects and travels to the eyes.Light behaves as waves. Light travels in a straight line when it travels through one medium.

Root question:

What would happen if a light wave is traveling through air and reaches the boundary with a glass surface?

Target response:

The light wave will flip the image in the opposite direction. The glass and water acts as an optic switching the image of the arrow the opposite direction, similar to that of the eye.

Common Misconceptions:

Light will travel through the air and through the glass of water. There is a possibility that the light will travel through the glass magnifying the object in the water like a magnifying glass.

Photographs and Movies

References

Boundary Behavior

Refraction and Sight