1. What is optical engineering?
The STEMmers were first introduced to what optical engineering is and learned that optical engineers solve problems involving light. The 5th graders learned we can thank optical engineers for technology such as compact discs, fiber optics, sunglasses, and more.
2. All About Light
Our first official lesson in this unit had the fifth graders recalling what they'd learned about light in class earlier in the year. They also completed a few test to observe how interacts with different materials, using the words reflects, absorbs, and transmits.
3. Light Testing
Next, we continued learning about light. First the 5th graders observed how light traveled, then they conducted a test investigating the angle of reflection. After setting up this test, the STEMmers used protractors to measure the angle of refraction and reflection. Doing this allowed them to learn that these two angles are always equal. Understanding this information will help the STEMmers greatly when they begin their design challenge.
The last test before designing has the STEMmers observing light intensity. Through these tests the 5th graders learned that the farther the light source from the object, the less intense the light is, and vice versa.
4. Time for a challenge!
Using all they've learned, the STEMmers are now ready for their design challenge. They were asked to design and build a lighting system that will successfully light as many hieroglyphs in a tomb with as much intensity as possible, using only one light source. The light must remain in the same place the entire time and the hieroglyphs are scattered amongst the tomb.