Experiment

In this lab activity, you will create convex and concave jello lenses and observe how light rays bend as the move through the medium.

Materials:

• 3 packets of jello (preferably light colours and sugar-free)
• hot water (according to package directions)
• baking pan
• strong flashlight
• shoe box

Safety

Performing hands-on lab activities is another way to learn and discover how science concepts apply to our everyday lives. However, it can also be dangerous if you do not take steps to perform these activities safely. We have made every effort to ensure that these activities are safe to perform in the presence of an adult (e.g. a teacher or parent). It is important for you to use good judgement and exercise every precaution in order to avoid accidents that may result in injury.

If you have any questions about the materials or procedure of a lab activity, you are to contact either your teacher or the Science Department , prior to beginning any lab activity.

Procedure A: Making Lenses from Jello

2. Mix the packets of jello with the hot water according to the package directions. Donotadd the cold water.
4. Stir to dissolve powder.
6. Refrigerate overnight.
8. Remove jello from the pan onto a cutting board surface.
10. Cut the jello into shapes that resemble convex and concave lenses. Make a variety of different curvatures.

Procedure B: Making a Ray Box

2. Cut a narrow slit (width: 1 mm; length: 5 cm) at one end of the shoe box.
4. Fix a strong flashlight up against the slit so that it can be easily turned on and off.

Procedure C: Observing Converging and Diverging Light Rays

2. Perform this activity in a dark room. Turn on the flashlight.
4. Direct the ray of light through the jello lenses and observe how the light bends as it moves through and exits the medium.
6. Direct the ray of light through the jello lenses at different angles and observe.

Analysis Questions

2. What did you observe when the light rays moved through a convex lens?
4. Why do you think this happened?
6. What did you observe when the light rays moved through a concave lens?
8. Why do you think this happened?
10. What similarities/ differences did you notice when doing this activity using lenses of different curvatures?