ERIC ED481372: Optics: Light, Color, and Their Uses. An Educator's Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics.

97 Pages·2000·2.4 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 481 372
SE 068 362
Optics: Light, Color, and Their Uses. An Educator's Guide
TITLE
with Activities in Science and Mathematics.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville,
INSTITUTION
AL. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
REPORT NO
PUB DATE 2000-00-00
NOTE
96p.
Classroom
PUB TYPE
Guides
Teacher (052)
EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
*Color; Elementary Secondary Education; Hands on Science;
DESCRIPTORS
*Light; *Optics; Science Activities; Space Sciences
ABSTRACT
This educator's guide from discusses optics, light, color and
their uses. Activities include:
(1) "Reflection of Light with a Plane (Flat)
Mirror--Trace a Star";
"Reflection of Light with Two Plane Mirrors--
(2)
Double Mirrors Placed at a 90-Degree Angle";
(3) "Reflection of Light with
Two Plane Mirrors--Double Mirrors Placed at a Number of Angles";
"Making
(4)
a Kaleidoscope--Construction of a Large Kaleidoscope Using PVC Pipe";
(5)
"Making a Periscope";
"Constructing a Spectroscope";
(7) "Exploring
(6)
Diffraction with a Spectroscope--The Electromagnetic Spectrum";
(8)
"Diffraction of Light by Very Small Apertures";
"Discovering Color with a
(9)
Prism--Fabrication of a Prism from Acrylic Plastic";
(10) "Light and Color--
Color Spinners"; (11) "Light and Color--Filters";
(12) "Light and Color--
Hidden Messages";
(13) "Simple Magnifiers";
(14) "Focusing Light with a
(15) "Building a Telescope--Diagrams of Reflector and Refractor
Lens";
(16) "Building a Microscope--Construction of a Microscope--A
Telescopes";
File Folder Microscope";
(17) "Interference Fringes"; and (18) "Polarization
of Light.
(MVL)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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NASA Space link
Optics: Light, Color, and Their UsesAn Educators
Guide With Activities In Science and Mathematics is
available in electronic format through NASA Space link
one of the Agency's electronic resources specifically
developed for use by the educational community.
The system may be accessed at the following address:
http://spacelink.nasa.gov
f3
Optics:
tht, Color, and Their Uses
An Educator's Guide With Adivities in Science and Mathematics
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Space Optics Manufacturing Technology Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
Customer Employee Relations Directorate /
Education Programs Department
Marshall Space Flight Center
This publication is in the Public Domain and is not protected by copyright.
Permission is not required for duplication.
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
Optics: An EducatorY Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
Optics: Light, Color, and Their Uses
An Educator's Guide
With Activities in Science and Mathematics
Acknowledgments
Era Jean Mann
Pat Armstrong
Computer Specialist
Curriculum Development Coordinator
Retired from NASA Marshall Space
Huntsville City Schools
Flight Center
Huntsville, AL
Huntsville, AL
P. Derryl Evans
Vicki Smith
Optical Physicist
IPA/Huntsville City Schools
Retired from NASA Marshall Space
Education Program Specialist
Flight Center
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL
Huntsville, AL
Vinson B. Huegele
Optical Physicist
Space Optics Manufacturing
Technology Center
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
On the Cover
Replicated X-ray Mirror
The reflective tube is an x-ray telescope mirror made as a shell cast from a
mold called a mandrel. The cylindrical mandrel is carefully shaped and polished
until it has the proper optical surface. Then gold, followed by nickel, is
electroplated onto the mandrel. The electroplated metal then comes off the
mandrel and the shell formed is a high-precision mirror on the inside. The
mandrel can be used again to replicate many mirrors with the same shape.
The x-ray mirrors in the Chandra Observatory are made of glass. Metal
mirrors replicated from a mandrel are much lighter and cheaper than glass, so
they are desirable for space applications. The Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC) is advancing replicated optics technology.
Shown in the picture are students Colton Guthrie and Laquita Hurt, with
MSFC optical physicist Vince Huegele.
ill
Optics: An EducatorY Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
5
NASA Projects, MSFC, Optics
Chandra X-Ray
Observatory
NOW
Chandra flies 200 times higher
X rays are a high-energy wavelength
than the Hubble Space Telescope and
in the electromagnetic spectrum. Many
its orbit takes it one-third of the way to
stars, supernova, quasars and galaxies
emit x rays, so observing these objects
the Moon. The cylindrical glass mirrors
in that wavelength will reveal much
in the Chandra are the largest of their
kind and the smoothest ever created.
about them.
Chandra and its upper stage was the
heaviest payload ever launched on
The Chandra Observatory (formerly
the Shuttle.
called the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics
FacilityAXAF) the world's most
The Chandra design and
powerful x-ray telescope, was launched
development program was managed by
on July 23, 1999, to view x-ray sources
MSFC. The observatory's telescope was
from space. Astronomers must have
this observatory in space because the tested and certified at the MSFC X-
Earth's atmosphere absorbs and blocks
Ray Calibration Facility.
celestial x-ray radiation from reaching
the ground.
_de&
Optics: An Educators Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
iV
6
NASA Projects, MSFC, Optics
The Hubble Space
4.
Telescope
The Hubble telescope uses a
A new era in astronomy began as
Cassegrain reflector system that has a
Shuttle astronauts released the
hyperbolic-shaped mirror. The design
Hubble Space Telescope into orbit on
is optimized for focusing the visible
April 26, 1990. With its vantage point
spectrum. The development and
above Earth's atmosphere Hubble has
assembly of the Hubble was directed
shown the birth and death of stars,
colliding galaxies, stellar plumes, gas
by MSFC.
rings, nebula clouds, comet impacts on
Jupiter, and storms on Saturn, all with
greater clarity and brightness than
humans have ever seen before. Hubble
is fulfilling its mission to collect
knowledge and discover a new
perspective of the universe.
Secondary
High Gain Antenna
Mirror
Aperture Door
Equipment Section
Fine Guidance
Light Shield
Sensor (3)
Aft Shroud
Axial Scientific
Instrument (4)
Double Roll-out
Radial Scientific
Fixed Head
Solar Array (2)
Instrument
Star Tracker
with Radiator (1)
(3)
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
Optics: An Educatort Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
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ProOMSFC, Optics
NASA
NW'
Next Generation Space Telescope
Investigating Laser Light Craft
The next space telescopes larger
The futuristic idea of a small laser-
than Hubble will have to be made with
propelled spacecraft like the model
special lightweight mirrors. MSFC is
shown here is being studied at MSFC.
testing new materials and assembly
techniques to make giant reflectors
The laser on the ground fires up
that will fold up for launch and then
under the specially shaped craft. The
open in space. These telescopes will be
focused infrared laser beam is
big enough to allow scientists to
absorbed by the air inside the engine,
see Earth-like planets
creating a laser supported detonation.
around other stars.
The high-pressure, high-temperature
plasma created by the laser absorption
cools and expands out the rear of the
vehicle producing the thrust which
propels the lightcraft into the sky.
MSFC is fabricating lightcraft bodies,
developing
beam directors,
and
investigating
improved
vehicle and
laser concepts.
Improving Observatory Alignment
The Hobby-Eberly telescope (HET)
near Ft. Davis, Texas, is a 9-meter
diameter telescope tailored for
spectroscopy. It has a special mirror
with 91 segments and features an
innovative, low-cost tracking system.
MSFC is designing a mirror Segment
Alignment Maintenance System on
the HET to improve the mirror
performance.
Optics: An Educators Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
Vi
8
NASA Projects, MSFC, Optics
Besides working with the large
instrument. Cassini was launched on
space observatories Hubble and
October 6, 1997, and will arrive at
Chandra, the MSFC optics group has
Saturn on July 1, 2004.
done design, assembly or testing on the
following projects.
Soft X-Ray Imager (SXI)
Station Windows
Space
SXI is designed to obtain a
continuous sequence of corona x-ray
The windows in the Space Station
images from the Sun to monitor solar
are for the crew to view external
activity for its effects on the Earth's
operations. MSFC designed the frames
upper atmosphere. It uses a Wolter
for the windows and tested the
grazing incidence mirror similar to the
transmission quality of the glass.
type in Chandra. SXI was assembled
and tested at MSFC and will be
launched as part of a Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite
(GOES) weather satellite.
Lightning Imaging System (LIS)
The MS is a space-based instrument
used to detect the distribution and
variability of lightning on Earth. The
Composite Infrared Spectrometer
measurements are being used to study
(CIRS) for the Cassini Saturn
storm convection
Spacecraft
and global
precipitation. LIS
The CIRS is a set of interferometers
was made at
designed to measure infrared
MSFC and
emissions from atmospheres, rings,
launched on
and surfaces to
November 28,
determine their
1997, in a weather
compositions and
satellite.
temperatures.
MSFC made and
tested the mirrors
for the CIRS
vii
Optics: An EducatorY Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
EG-2000-10-64-MSFC
9
Classroom Activities
This material has been developed to provide a guide to hands-on experiences
in science and mathematics. The activity plans are written to be used by the
students in groups of two to four people in a lab-type setting.
Each lab session should begin with a brief discussion of the theory section of
each lesson plan. The teacher should feel free to adjust the information and
activities to meet the needs of the students. For the very young student, the
teacher may want to lead the experience activity and adapt the questions.
Pat Armstrong
Activities for Grades K-4
Reflection of Light With a Plane (Flat) Mirror
Activity 1:
Reflection of Light With Two Plane Mirrors
Activity 2:
Exploring Diffraction With a Spectroscope
Activity 7:
Activity 10: Light and Color-Color Spinners
Activity 11: Light and Color-Filters
Activity 12: Light and Color-Hidden Messages
Activity 13: Simple Magnifiers
Activities for Grades 5-8
Reflection of Light With a Plane (Flat) Mirror
Activity 1:
Reflection of Light Withe Two Plane Mirrors
Activity 2:
Reflection of Light With Two Plane Mirrors-Double Sided
Activity 3:
Making a Periscope
Activity 5:
Constructing a Spectroscope
Activity 6:
Exploring Diffraction with a Spectroscope
Activity 7:
Activity 10: Light and Color-Color Spinners
Activity 12: Light and Color-Hidden Messages
Activity 13: Simple Magnifiers
Activities for Grades 9-12
Making a Kaleidoscope
Activity 4:
Making a Periscope
Activity 5:
Diffraction of Light by Very Small Apertures
Activity 8:
Discovering Color With a Prism
Activity 9:
Activity 14: Focusing Light With a Lens
Activity 15: Building a Telescope
Activity 16: Building a Microscope
Activity 17: Interference Fringes
Activity 18: Polarization of Light
Optics: An Educatort Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics
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