Light Tower Science Tools

See how light bends, spreads, and forms color with interactive optics instruments and a study library on your iPhone. Light Tower Science Tools connects the equations you read with the patterns you can explore.

Open the Optical Workbench to examine a spectrum, simulate diffraction, or model a Gaussian beam. Adjust wavelengths and intensities to see how they shape a spectrum and its estimated color. Change the slit width, spacing, and count to see the effect on diffraction fringes. For a Gaussian beam, explore how wavelength and waist radius influence beam size, Rayleigh range, and divergence. Use the interactive charts to read values directly from your results.

Find formulas by name, symbol, or concept. Review variable definitions, units, and worked calculations, save the formulas you use most, or add your own with a live equation preview. Turn formulas into a quick study session with flashcards and keep track of the cards you have learned.

Look up an unfamiliar term in the optics dictionary or read an article to see how the ideas connect. Explore subjects such as polarization, spectroscopy, optical fibers, and imaging. Share a definition, an article, a formula, or a calculation with someone who is learning alongside you.

When you are ready to test yourself, choose how many questions to answer and how much time to spend on each one. Questions and answer choices are shuffled, and each answer includes an explanation. Compare your accuracy and scores across sessions to see how your understanding grows.