What are you looking for?
Optics for Kids
About Scientists and Optical Engineers
Scientists vs. Engineers
Aren’t Scientists and Engineers the Same Thing?
Not quite. Though they use many of the same ideas and methods, scientists and engineers are somewhat different.
What Do Scientists Want?
Scientists want to know how the universe works. They may see it as an enormous jigsaw puzzle to solve for its own sake. Some things they find are useful right away. Others are not, although much of what scientists have found in the past has turned out to be useful in some way. Though they certainly want to help people, their major goal is understanding, not usefulness.
What About Engineers?
Engineers try to use the facts of science and math to do things that are useful to people. Many engineers are designers. They design the many products that we use in the world, from computers to cars to camera lenses.
What Do They Have in Common?
Quite a few things, actually. Scientists and engineers both use the facts and methods of science, and both often use math and computers in their work.
Questions Scientists Might Ask About Light
- What is light?
- How does matter produce light?
- Why are things different colors?
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why do some things reflect lots of light and others very little?
- Why are some things transparent?
- How and why does light bend?
- How fast does light travel?
- Is light a particle, a wave, or something else?
- Why does light change some materials?
Have More Questions?
Try going to a search site such as Google and typing the question there (try “physics FAQ’).
Or visit “Ask the Expert.”
Careers in Light
The World Needs Scientists and Engineers
Scientists and engineers are important members of our society. We need science and technology to live in the modern world — to have products we want, to communicate, to travel, to understand and protect the environment, and much more.
Watch this video, "Optics: Light at Work," to explore the career of optical engineering and science. You’ll also see examples of real-world applications and exciting new technologies like nanomedicine, space telescopes, invisibility, and solar energy.
What Do They Do?
Scientists perform experiments and conduct research to understand a certain topic. They start with a hypothesis, or a theory about how something works. Then they use equipment and tools to measure, calculate, and test the theory.
Engineers design and build physical products. They use the findings of scientists to develop solutions to real-world problems. Then, they test those solutions to make sure they work.
What About Math?
Math is important, but good reading and writing skills, common sense, curiosity, and general knowledge are also important. You need to have four or more years of college to be an engineer or scientist. Most scientists and many engineers also go to graduate school after college to increase their knowledge and get advanced degrees.
There Are Many Other Related Careers!
Optics (optical science) and optical engineering are specialized but very useful and interesting fields, though there are many other areas you can also study.
What Is It like Working with Lenses?
Visit Canon on YouTube to see how a lens is made and how lenses function. Courtesy of Canon.
What Did We Learn?
- Optics is the science of light
- Devices that control light are common and important in our daily lives
- Many optical devices use lenses and lasers
- Scientists and engineers use similar facts and methods (like math and computers), but their goals are different
- Science or engineering can really be fun!
Next Topic: Resources
Continued Learning
Want help or have questions?