Group Work
1. Write 3-5 important pieces of information from
the text (think about how it relates to your
notes). Be able to tell why it is important to you.
2. Create a quiz question based on the important
information.
3. Design a question about light that you would
like to know more about.
4. Decide what resources you can use to figure out
your question.
Light
What is light?
•Light is a form of energy
that travels in waves.
•Light waves travel in
straight lines.
Sources of Light
• Sun
• Light bulbs
• Candles
• Laser
Parts of a Light Wave
1. Wavelength –
1. the distance between two peaks
or two troughs.
2. Crest/peak –
1. the highest point of a wave.
3. Trough –
1. the lowest point of a wave.
Fact: All waves have
crests/peaks and troughs.
How Light Travels
1. Beams of light travel in a straight
line until it hits something. At this
point a couple of things can happen.
– It is absorbed (Absorb – means
to take in).
– It is reflected. (Reflect –
means to bounce off.)
– It is refracted. (Refraction
means that light can bend.)
Light Facts
• The image you see in a mirror is
due to reflection.
• When white light passes through
a prism, the path of the white
light bends. This is known as
refraction.
Properties/Characteristics of
Light
1. There are many different colors
of light. When all these colors
mix together, they make white
light.
2. White light is the color of light
that comes from the sun, light
bulbs, and flashlights.
Refraction
1. The Bending of Light
• When white light passes through
a prism, it breaks/spreads apart
into bands of different colors.
• These are all the colors of the
rainbow.
Water droplets, such as
raindrops, can act as prisms.
• Prism – A
triangular piece
of glass or
plastic.
• When white light
passes through a
prism, its waves
are bent and
spread apart into
different colors.
Wavelength: distance of a wave
measured from crest/peak to
crest/peak or trough to trough
Frequency: the number of waves
over a given time
Long Wavelength Short
Low Frequency High
What colors make white light?
• Red, Orange, Yellow, Green,
Blue, Indigo, and Violet
• An easy way to remember this
is by remembering the name
ROY G. BIV.
Roy G. Biv
1. What have you learned about wavelength
and frequency measurements for the
ROY G BIV spectrum?
2. Fill in the blanks: The longer the
wavelength the ________ the frequency.
The shorter the wavelength the
________ the frequency.
3. Why do you think the sky is blue if the
sunshine gives off all the colors of light?
4. Why is the sunset red?
5. What are you wondering now?
Light can pass through objects in different
amounts.
1. There are three types of materials that light
can hit. These materials can be:
• Transparent – something that allows light
to pass completely through it. Examples:
glass, water
• Translucent – materials that allow only
some light pass through them. Examples:
paper, frosted glass.
• Opaque – materials that block light
completely. Examples: bricks, metal,
cardboard.
Short Answer Questions (quiz)
1. When all the colors of the rainbow mix
together, what color do you get?
2. What is the bending of light called?
3. Name the colors of the rainbow.
4. Name two sources of light and 2
reflectors.
5. Name two examples of each: 2 that are
transparent, translucent, and opaque.
6. Draw an example of each: refraction and
a labeled light wave.
The Pharaoh’s Chamber
1. Describe how you set up the mirrors. Why did
you place them where you did around the tunnel?
What were you trying to do?
2. What information did you learn about the
Pharaoh’s wealth when you translated the scroll?
3. How does this activity show that light travels in
straight lines?
4. What would happen if you changed the position
of one of the mirrors?
5. Why would this have been a good way for the
Egyptians to get light into the tombs? Can you
think of any other objects besides mirrors that
could have used as reflectors?
6. What are you wondering now?
Roy G. Biv
1. Describe the relationship between the
wavelength, frequency, and color of the
waves that make up the Roy G. Biv
spectrum.
2. Why do you think the sky is blue if the
sunshine gives off all the colors of light?
3. Why is the sunset red?
4. What are you wondering now?