Student Guide

ChromaDepth Glasses

Experimenting with wave properties of light

What is wave diffraction? Wave refraction? Name examples of wave diffraction and refraction you see in real life. How can ChromaDepth possibly play into new technologies?

This resource was originally published in PhysicsQuest 2023: Making Waves.

Students preparing activity

What is wave diffraction? Wave refraction? Name examples of wave diffraction and refraction you see in real life. How can ChromaDepth possibly play into new technologies?

  • ChromaDepth glasses
  • Colorful fabric, images, etc. (We’ve found that bright primary colors on dark backgrounds work best.)
  • Black paper and colorful gel pens, paint markers, or similar drawing implements to create ChromaDepth art
Intro

Now that we know a bit about waves, we’re going to focus on light waves in particular. Optical devices like lenses, mirrors, and fiber optic cables use reflection, refraction, or diffraction to move light around. You’re probably already familiar with reflection — it’s the bouncing of light off a surface. The optics found in the ChromaDepth glasses you’ll explore with today combine refraction and diffraction to bend light and create a 3D effect. You’ll get to explore this 3D effect, create 3D art, and come up with possible applications of using ChromaDepth technology elsewhere.

After reading the introduction, what is your essential question or objective for this activity?

Before the experiment

  • Wear brightly colored clothing to school tomorrow! Something with lots of colors and/or a really colorful pattern will be best!

Setting up

  • Get a pair of ChromaDepth glasses from your teacher.

During the experiment

  • Explore the room, looking at fabrics, posters, and colorful objects.

  • Can you rearrange anything on your desk to give you a powerful 3D effect? Try layering different colorful objects you have around you!

  • Collect black paper and gel pens/paint markers from your teacher to create your own ChromaDepth art. Try using bold lines. What happens when you put certain colors next to each other?

  • Now that you've seen how ChromaDepth uses the diffraction and refraction of light to create a 3D effect where red features “float” and blue features “sink,” think up a possible further application of ChromaDepth technology!

  • Explore the PhysicsQuest 23: Making Waves Physics Career and Concept Map. What careers that use this content sound most appealing to you? Why?

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