echoesof.science · Ages 10–11
Light and colour: mirrors, rainbows and a blue sky
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the game and the quiz
echoesof.science/school/light/ages-10-11/
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Light travels in straight lines called rays. It can change direction when it hits a mirror or passes from one material into another, such as from air into water.
When light hits a mirror, it bounces off at the same angle it arrived: the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. A smooth mirror reflects neatly, so you see an image. Rough paper scatters light in all directions, which is why you can read a page from any angle.
White light is a mixture of all the visible colours. A glass prism or a raindrop bends each colour by a slightly different amount, so the colours spread out: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. Violet bends most, red least. A rainbow forms when sunlight is bent and reflected inside raindrops.
Experiment: Make a rainbow
- Fill the glass almost to the top with water.
- Put it on a table or windowsill in bright sunlight, near the edge.
- Hold the white paper on the floor or a chair below, and move it until you see a band of colours.
- Write down the order of the colours you see.
- Optional: tilt a CD in the light. Do you see the colours again?
| What I used | Did I see colours? | Order of colours (top to bottom) |
|---|---|---|
| Glass of water in sunlight | ||
| CD (optional) |
Questions
Draw a ray hitting a mirror and reflecting. Mark the two equal angles.
Write the colours of the rainbow in order.
Explain why a banana looks yellow.
Why are sunsets often red and orange?
Sources for every fact on this sheet: echoesof.science/school/light/sources/