Performance Task
16.3 Lenses
18.
In this performance task, you will investigate the lens-like properties of a clear bottle.
- a water bottle or glass with a round cross-section and smooth, vertical sides
- enough water to fill the bottle
- a meter stick or tape measure
- a bright light source with a small bulb, such as a pen light
- a small bright object, such as a silver spoon.
Instructions
Procedure
- Look through a clear glass or plastic bottle and describe what you see.
- Next, fill the bottle with water and describe what you see.
- Use the water bottle as a lens to produce the image of a bright object.
- Estimate the focal length of the water bottle lens.
- How can you find the focal length of the lens using the light and a blank wall?
- How can you find the focal length of the lens using the bright object?
- Why did the water change the lens properties of the bottle?
Teacher Support
Teacher Support
The learning objectives in this section help your students master the following standards:
- (7) Science concepts. The student knows the characteristics and behavior of waves. The student is expected to
- (D) investigate behaviors of waves, including reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, resonance, and the Doppler effect;
- (E) describe and predict image formation as a consequence of reflection from a plane mirror and refraction through a thin convex lens; and
- (F) describe the role of wave characteristics and behaviors in medical and industrial applications.
In addition, the High School Physics Laboratory Manual addresses content in this section in the lab titled: Mirrors and Lenses, as well as the following standards:
- (7) Science concepts. The student knows the characteristics and behavior of waves. The student is expected to
- (D) investigate behaviors of waves, including reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, resonance, and the Doppler effect.