Introductory Science Experiments Using Silicone Optics

Raphael A. Guerrero and Arlyn S. Reguya

Silicone-replicated materials are easy to make and provide an inexpensive—and unbreakable—alternative to glass optics for classroom experiments.

imageWhite light dispersion on the surface of a grating replica fabricated from clear silicone.

In a typical grade-school lecture about optics, a teacher might use a prism to illustrate the dispersion of white light or a mirror to show reflection. While such glass optics make for effective demonstrations, they are often kept out of young hands because they are easily breakable.

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