Bending Light
"Bending Light" is a free Java applet used to simulate the refraction of light as it passes from one medium to another. The design is simple; a laser beam is aimed at a boundary. Use the mouse to change the incident angle. A second activity allows the user to shine the laser through a prism instead of a boundary. A third activity allows the user to measure the intensity of the reflected and refracted beams as well as their speed. Visitors to the site can choose to download the applet or run it online. Links to teacher lesson plans and other languages are also included on the site. Total internal reflection is easily demonstrated through this simulation, as is the bending of light by prisms. Advanced students can make the connection between the way light refracts through a prism and refraction of light through a lens.
