Module 1: Light Signals
Didactic Framework: 3 worksheets, 1 factsheet, 1 Notes for Teachers In this module students learn the following:
That light goes fast and straight The concept that light paths are reversible The law of reflection How optical fibres guide light Teamwork Developing technical solutions under time pressure, while meeting specifications
This module is designed to help students learn the basics of optical telecommunication by presenting a situation between two villages. Students need to devise a system to allow these two villages to communicate with each other without using electricity and whilst meeting certain criteria, much like the requirements facing engineers working in industry. Once students establish that using light is the best means of communication they need to send an encoded message through the optical fibre using red, green and blue LEDs. Students also learn the laws of reflection via an experiment which uses a slit to direct light onto mirrors that then reflect the light.