Describes an experiment that involves measuring the intensity of laser light passed by a linear polarizer. Discusses polarization effects, orthogonal polarizations, instrumentation, and further experiments. (JRH)

Describes a diffraction experiment that uses circular holes salvaged from nonaerosol hair spray bottles to produce spectacular circular interference fringes. (JRH)

Describes the use of a laser pointer to measure the speed of light by incorporating the phase delay between a modulated split beam of light. (JRH)

Describes a measurement lab that introduces measurement and presents a simple example of how to use error analysis with an obvious illustration of its value. The experiment measures the diameters of pinhole images of the sun and uses them to calculate the heights of the leafy canopy that created the images. (JRH)

Three classic visual toys are discussed and instructions are given for their construction. These are moire patterns, kaleidoscope, and stereoscope. (MP)

Describes the experimental and theoretical details for constructing and calibrating an inexpensive, homemade liquid-lens refractometer. Measures refractive indices that are within the experimental errors discussed and close to the literature values. (JRH)

Describes a method to combine two learning experiences--optical physics and matrix mathematics--in a straightforward laboratory experiment that allows engineering/physics students to integrate a variety of learning insights and technical skills, including using lasers, studying refraction through thin lenses, applying concepts of matrix…

Reviews various science activities investigating polarized light. (SL)

Background information and procedures are provided for an optics experiment related to diffraction order asymmetry. (JN)

Suggests experiments to help develop understanding of photoconductivity, photometry, and the inverse square law in optics. The design of a simple absorption colorimeter is also described. (DH)

This article describes the basic physics of several types of holograms and discusses different recording materials in use. Current and possible future applications of holograms are described as well as their large-scale production. (Author)

Discusses the nature, resolution, focal length, and angle of a pinhole camera. Describes the development and some applications of the camera. Nineteen references are listed. (YP)

This book contains scaled-down versions of Exploratorium exhibits that teachers can make using common, inexpensive, easily available materials. Each topic begins with a drawing of the original exhibit on the museum floor, a photograph of the scaled-down version which contains an introduction to the exhibit, a list of materials needed with…

This book contains scaled-down versions of Exploratorium exhibits that teachers can make using common, inexpensive, easily available materials. Each topic begins with a drawing of the original full-sized exhibit on the museum floor, a photograph of the scaled-down version which contains an introduction to the exhibit, a list of materials needed…

Describes a computer simulation to elucidate the subject of coherence. The model on which simulation is based links coherence to the correlation of fields. It also describes the model and presents some results. (Author/GA)