• Scavenger Hunt• Facts about Light • Color in Print•The Color Spectrum •What are Rainbows?•All About Shadows

What is light that it can play such tricks?What is light that it can play such tricks?

Have you ever seen yourself in a fun house mirror? How could you suddenly becomeHave you ever seen yourself in a fun house mirror? How could you suddenly becometwice as tall or four times as wide as you are?twice as tall or four times as wide as you are?Go to Go to http://science.howstuffworks.com/light.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/light.htm to find out. to find out.

How fast is light? How long does it take for light to travel from the sun to the Earth?How fast is light? How long does it take for light to travel from the sun to the Earth?Go to Go to http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/speed.htmlhttp://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/speed.html to find out. to find out.

What happens when light hits a mirror? How can we change the direction of light hittingWhat happens when light hits a mirror? How can we change the direction of light hittinga mirror?a mirror?Go to Go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/see_things.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/see_things.shtml to to find out.find out.

Filamentality Site:Filamentality Site: http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listlightda.htmlhttp://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listlightda.html

What is light that it can play such tricks?What is light that it can play such tricks?

What makes a shadow? How can we change the size of a shadow?What makes a shadow? How can we change the size of a shadow?Go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/light_shadows.shtmlGo to http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/light_shadows.shtmlto find out. to find out.

Does a window give out light? Can a mirror be a light source?Does a window give out light? Can a mirror be a light source?Go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/light_dark.shtml toGo to http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/light_dark.shtml tofind out.find out.

What is the real color of the sky? Are the primary colors of light the same as What is the real color of the sky? Are the primary colors of light the same as the primary colors of pigments?the primary colors of pigments?Go to http://science.howstuffworks.com/sky.htm to find out.Go to http://science.howstuffworks.com/sky.htm to find out.

Filamentality Site:Filamentality Site: http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listlightda.htmlhttp://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listlightda.html

Here are some things to think about:

• Our brains and eyes act together to make extraordinary things happen in perception.

• Light acts like that stream from the source.

• Light also acts like waves that ripples in space.

• This explains how rainbows work. In fact, light is both. This "wave-particle duality" is one of the most confusing—and wonderful—principles of physics.

Sources of Light

• A source of light makes its own light. Examples are the sun and other stars, fires, torches and lamps.

• Some animals such as fire-flies and glow worms are light sources. They make their own light to attract mates.

• A mirror is not a light source because it reflects light.

• The moon is not a light source because it reflects light from the sun.

• You would not be able to see a reflector of light, such as a mirror, in a completely dark room.

Sources of Light

Reflectors of Light

Seeing Objects

• We see a light source when light from the source enters our eyes.

• When light from a light source hits an object, it is reflected (bounces off) and enters our eyes.

This is how we see the object:

Reflection occurs…

…when light bounces off objects.  If the

surface is rough, the light scatters.  If the

surface is smooth and flat, the light will

bounce off it at equal angles.  That is why

a flat mirror reflects a good likeness of the

object being reflected.

Refraction occurs…

…because light bends.  A lens is a piece

of transparent material.  It is usually made

of glass and has at least one curved

surface.

Color is more than decoration, and perceiving color is tricky. Let’s see how color interacts and how we can use color as a scientific tool.

Made From Dots• Have you ever looked at a magazine picture through a strong magnifying glass?

- You will find that it is made up of dots. - Look at the babies nose:

• One as if it were a photographic print, and the other as if it were a magazine photo, blown up 200, 400, and 800 times.

Did you know that the primary colors of light and the primary colors of pigments are different?

• The primary colors of pigment are red, blue, and yellow but the primary colors of light are red, blue, and GREEN.

• Light behaves differently than paint when you mix the colors. If you add all 3 primary colors of light you get… WHITE!

Take a look at colored light interacting to make new colors:

Now take a look at the color wheel. Look at the pigments your

printer mixes together to print your work in the computer lab:

• Can you manipulate the distance your ball will roll by changing the angle of the ramp?

Ball Type Angle of Ramp in Degrees

Ping Pong 7    

Styrofoam 25    

Marble 3    

• Notice how the properties of the ball can change the angle required.

Different Angles for Different Objects

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

1

Type

of B

all

Angle of Ramp in Degrees

Marble

Styrofoam

Ping Pong

Rainbows are the reflection and refraction of light through small droplets of water suspended in the air.

The water bends light as it enters the droplets.

The colors are there because light is a wave and each color is a different size wave. They get bent by the water and the waves are separated from each other.

When the waves get separated, we see them in bands in the sky stacked from shortest, to the longest.

What is a shadow? Why does your shadow seem What is a shadow? Why does your shadow seem

longer at certain times of the day?longer at certain times of the day? A shadow is created when light hits an opaque object. When light is A shadow is created when light hits an opaque object. When light is

blocked, a shadow appearsblocked, a shadow appears..

You can measure your shadow throughout the day You can measure your shadow throughout the day

and graph the data. A line graph is a great way to and graph the data. A line graph is a great way to

show change over time:show change over time:

At what time of day is your shadow the shortest? Why?At what time of day is your shadow the shortest? Why?

The Length of My Shadow Throughout the Day

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

9:00am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm

Time of Day

Len

gth

of

Sh

ad

ow

in

In

ch

esAt what time of day is your shadow the shortest? Why?

Your shadow is theYour shadow is theshortest at noon because…shortest at noon because…

The sun is at its highest point- right The sun is at its highest point- right overhead. Sunlight shines down from overhead. Sunlight shines down from straight above you. You block less straight above you. You block less light and your shadow is smaller.light and your shadow is smaller.

Your shadow is longer in Your shadow is longer in

the morning and afternoon the morning and afternoon

because…because…

In the morning and afternoon the sun In the morning and afternoon the sun is lower and will be shining down on is lower and will be shining down on you at an angle. More of you will be you at an angle. More of you will be blocking the light.blocking the light.