The Lighter Side of Life

WATCH THIS!

• Turn to your neighbor and describe what you just saw

• Write down five words that describe the light’s actions

• NOTES for student journal: Light is a thin ray or beam of energy that travels in a straight line.

Light Energy can be…

–manmade (light bulbs, flashlights)

–natural (solar energy from the sun)

–Does not cause pollution that will hurt life

–Does cause light pollution in space so the stars are no longer visible to us

Light goes in a STRAIGHT line

but you can cause it to change direction:

–Reflects or reflection (bounces off) tinted sunglasses mirror disco ball mirror

A reflection is when light rays bounce off a surface.

• mirror

• shiny metal

• tinted sunglasses

• tinted windows

Sometimes light rays are absorbed.

• clothing/material

• ceiling tiles

• milk

• desk tops

The light will also change direction

if it goes something.

- refracts (bends, breaks)

through

A refraction is when light rays bend as they go

something.• glass

• eye glasses

• cameras

• microscope, hand lens and telescope

through

Refraction and Density

The more denser (thicker) the matter is….

…the more the light rays are refracted (bent)!

light + density = lots of refraction!!

Light can travel through…..–empty space (outer space)

–gases (air)

–some liquids• water

• Coke

• Sprite

• milk

–some solids

Lenses

We look through lenses (made of manmade glass or plastic) to see objects. The lenses cause light to refract (bend) thus making objects look larger or smaller.

Lenses can make objects appear

larger or smaller

LargerA convex lens makes objects

appear larger.

Larger = Convex Lens

Used for:

•eye glasses

•contact lens

•microscope

•hand lens

•camera zoom lens

•binoculars

•beaker/glass bowls

smaller

A concave lens makes an object look smaller.

smaller = Concave Lens

Used for:

•eye glasses

•contact lens

•makeup mirror

•camera

•telescope

•car side door mirror

Color My World

Surprise! White light is made up of all the colors of the rainbow put together.

This is called the color spectrum.

When white light hits something:

•Some colors from the white light are absorbed.

•Some colors from the white light are reflected.

Surprise!!!

The color that is reflected

….. is the color of the object!

All the other colors are….absorbed!

Let’s try it….

A red book

The red book is every color....

except red!

Let’s try it….

A blue car

The blue car is every color....

except blue!

Let’s try it….

A black cat

Black absorbs all colors so….

black is the absence of color!

Let’s try it….

white snow

White reflects all the colors so….

white is all the colors together!