A major technological breakthrough--the isolation and then combination of narrow bands of blue-violet, pure green, and orange-red energy--has resulted in a highly efficient white fluorescent lamp. (Author/MLF)

The arrangement of colors in Newton's color circle suggests that it was derived from paint mixtures, not light mixtures. If this is true it may be concluded that what Newton called indigo represents violet in modern terminology, and what he called violet represents purple. (Author/TS)

The fundamental concepts of holography are explained using elementary wave ideas. Discusses wavefront reconstruction and contrast in hemigraphic images. The consequence of recording only the intensity at a given surface and using an oblique reference wave is shown to be an incomplete reconstruction resulting in image of low contrast. (LC)

Attempts to quantify the subjective sensation of brightness of the spot projected by a helium-neon laser and compares this with conventional sources of light. Provides an exercise in using the blackbody radiation formulas. (JRH)

Seasonality appears to have an impact on children's physical activity levels, but equivocal findings demand more study in this area. With the increased use of pedometers in both research and practice, collecting descriptive data in various seasons to examine the impact of seasonality on pedometer-measured physical activity among children is…

Here is a quick way to measure the index of refraction of water using the phenomenon of total internal reflection.

Education administrators do not have to be deeply committed to the ecology movement to see the value of conserving energy and providing more environmentally friendly facilities. Reducing energy costs frees up funds for learning programs. Providing more healthful facilities can help students and teachers ward off illness and disease and perform…

A teacher narrates from activities and discussions that arose among undergraduates and herself while doing critical explorations of mirrors. Surprised by light's behaviors, the students responded with curiosity, losing their dependence on answers as the format of school knowledge. Inadequacies in how participants supposed light works emerged in…

Describes a career and technical education program on photonics, the study, research, and development of equipment and concepts used in the transmission of information through light, including fiber optics and experimental laser technologies. (JOW)

Describes the construction of lithographic gratings and Young's double slits by a contact print method that does not require any special skill or equipment. (JRH)