How do Lenses Affect Light?

 

Michael Zitolo

School of the Future, Manhattan

Summer Research Program for Science Teachers

August 2011

 

 

Subject:  Regents/General/Conceptual Physics

Grade Level: 11 & 12

Time Frame: 1 Period

Objective:  By the end of this lesson, students will be able to explain the difference between converging and diverging lens (using words and pictures)

 

Motivation: To understand how telescopes work, students must have a basic understanding of lenses (and mirrors).  This activity will give students their first exposure to seeing the way that different lenses can bend light.

Materials: (Per Group of 3-4 Students)

 

Push Up (Do Now):

1. Give each group of students a set of lenses.

2. Ask them individually (without talking to their group mates) record anything they notice about the lens as well as questions they think of related to the lenses in their notebooks in a chart. (3 minutes)

 

 

Lens #1:

Lens #2:

Lens #3:

Observations:

 

 

 

Questions:

 

 

 

  • 3. After five minutes, ask them to share out their observations and questions with their group mates and record them on a whiteboard.  If a group mate made an observation you missed, asked the group mate to show you what they saw and then record the observation in your own notebook.  (3 Minutes)

     

    4. After five minutes, share out the observations and questions as a class. Ask one person from each group to share. (4 Minutes)

     

    Main Activity: Drawing Preliminary Ray Diagrams for Lenses:

    ·         Tell students that we are going to explore the following question: “How does a lens affect light?”  (Ideally, this is one question the students came up with above.)

    ·         Have the following instructions on the board (or on a handout):

     

    Part I: Examining the Lenses (15 Minutes)

    1.      Place the first lens on the paper (flat side on the paper so lies flush with the paper) and outline it with your pencil.

    2.      Using a ruler, draw five parallel lines that go toward the lens with the blue marker.

    3.      Place the laser pointer on the paper and use it to shine the light such that it follows the path of one of the drawn lines.  Using the red marker, draw the path of the light after it leaves the lens.

    4.      Repeat Step 3 for each parallel line.

    5.      With a fresh sheet of paper, repeat steps 1-4 for each remaining lens.

     

    Part II: Analyzing the Light Patterns (10 Minutes)

    1.   Sketch the pattern of light rays for each lens into your notebook.

    2.      What do you notice about the path the light takes after traveling through each lens?  Describe the effects that the lens has on the light for each lens.

     

     

    Lens #1:

    Lens #2:

    Lens #3:

    Sketch of Light Ray Pattern

     

     

     

    Written Description

     

     

     

     

    Part III: Class Discussion (10 Minutes)

    1.      Split the six groups in half (two sets of three groups).  Give each group in each set one lens to present on their whiteboards. (5 Minutes)

    2.      Have each group present to the other groups in their set of groups. (5 Minutes)

     

    Homework:

    Research the following questions at home:

    1.      Look up the names of the types of lenses we were using today.  Explain why these names are appropriate based on what you saw today in class.

    2.      What is the name of the point where the rays of light cross paths?  Do all lenses have this point?

    3.      PREDICT:  What type of lens do you think each of the following objects use and explain why: (a) Camera (b) Magnifying Glass (c) Eye Glasses?  Once you’ve explained your prediction, research the answers online.

     

    New York State Learning Standards: 

    Standard 1 – Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

    ·   Key Idea 1: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena in a continuing, creative process.

    Standard 4 – The Physical Setting

    ·   Key Idea 4.3vii: Observe, sketch, and interpret the behavior of wave fronts as they reflect, refract, and diffract

    ·   Key Idea 4.3viii: Draw ray diagrams to represent the reflection and refraction of waves