Dexters

Scienc
e
Lab

Light
1

Energy
The speed of light is
about 1 million
times faster then
the speed of sound!

Properties
of

light
The speed of light is 297 000 kilometres per second.
Light is a form of energy.
Light travels in straight

lines.

Light can be reflected, refracted or absorbed.

Light comes from luminous objects such as the sun.
Light from luminous objects keeps travelling until it
interacts
with matter. In interacting with matter light reflects, refracts,
transmits or
gets absorbed.
.

Light is reflected off non-luminous objects.

White Light is made up of all colours of the rainbow e.g.

sunlight.
2

Absorpti
on
Lumino
us
Nonluminous

Refractio
n
Reflecti

Lets help build

Dexters science lab
with word bricks
(Refer to Page 11)

on
Transmit
s

So how do
we see things?
Light makes it possible for us to see things. When light
from a source hits an object the light bounces of the object and
enters our eyes, our brain then tells us we are seeing the
object. We are able to see a light sourse when light from the
source enters our eyes. The vision process occurs when light
enters the eye from a luminous object or through reflection off
a non-luminous object. If an object doesnt produce light of its
own then light has to be reflected off the object for us to see it.

Light
produced by
the sun

Ray of lightstraight line

3

Reflection

How do o ur eyes work?

Human eyes are light receivers where light energy enters the
pupil and is inverted and focused by the lens on to the rod and
cone cells on the retina. Electrical signals then travel to the
optic nerve and to the brain. (Skamp, 2004)

Pupil- The pupil is the black dot in

the middle of the eye. This black
area is actually a hole that takes in
light so the eye can focus on the
objects in front of it.
Iris- The iris
contains
pigment that
gives your
eyes colour.
This area
surrounds
the pupil and
uses
muscles to
widen and
close the
pupil. This
allows the
eye to take
in more or
less light
depending
on the
brightness
around you.

Vitreous gel (humor)- The

Vitreous humor is located at the
back of the eye which helps the
eye keep its spherical shape. This
gel takes in nutrients keeping the
eye healthy.
Optic
nerveThe optic
nerve
sends the
message
given from
the retina
to the
brain
where the
brain
interprets
Retina- The light focused
by
and allows
the lens will be transmitted
onto the retina. This is made
of rods and cones arranged in
layers, which will transmit
light into chemicals and
electrical pulses. It is located
4 is
in the back of the eye and
attached to the optic nerves
that will transmit the images

Lens- The lens sits directly

behind the pupil. This is a clear
layer that focuses on the light
the pupil takes in. It is held in
place by muscles, which allow
the lens to change shape
depending on the amount of
light that hits it so it can be
properly focused.

Sources
of Light
A Luminous object is one that produces light. There are two
types of luminous objects; natural and artificial. Light from each
point on a luminous object travels in all directions.
Natural producers of light include:
Stars
The Sun
Artificial producers of light include:

A Non-luminous object is one that reflects light. Reflectors

include:
Mirrors
The moon
Shiny surfaces such as steel
Telescopes that use mirror

Reflection
Reflections occur when light bounces off a surface it hits. When
the light is reflected the angle of reflection equals the angle of
incidence.
In order for us to see an object that doesnt produce light, light
from a light source is reflected off the object into our eyes.

Absorption
6

Absorption occurs when light cant pass through an object.

Absorption allows us to see objects and their colours. As white
light is made up of all the colours of the rainbow in order for us
to see the colour of the object, all the other colours in the white
light need to be absorbed.

Refraction
Refraction occurs when light moves through a dense substance
such as water or glass. Refraction is caused by light travelling
slower in denser substances.
It is the bending of light as it travels from one substance to
another e.g. light moving from air to glass or from air to water.
Refracted light is deflected in one direction.
The change in speed of the substances bends the light as it
passes from one substance to another.

Check page 11 for

definitions

Angle of
incidence
White light
Deflecte
d

Materials and
Light
There are three types of materials that affect the transmission
of light. These materials can be categorised into transparent,
translucent and opaque.

Transparent materials enable light to be transmitted

through them.

Translucent materials enable light to be

transmitted through them but the light may be diffused or
scattered by the material itself.

Opaque materials dont allow light to

pass through at all. These materials absorb the light.
Using a torch shine a light on all three of these materials and
then categorise them into transparent, translucent and opaque
based on these explanations.
Cardboard
Baking Paper

Cellophane

Professor Dorking
Transmitted
Diffused

Mat
erials and
Light
Scattered

There are three types of materials that affect the transmission

of light. These materials can be categorised into transparent,
translucent and opaque.

Transparent materials enable light to be transmitted

through them.

Translucent materials enable light to be

transmitted through them but the light may be diffused or
scattered by the material itself.

Opaque materials dont allow light to

pass through at all. These materials absorb the light.
Using a torch shine a light on all three of these materials and
then categorise them into transparent, translucent and opaque.

Shadows
How do shadows work?
Shadows are the result of an object blocking the passage of
light. They occur when light hits an opaque object/material,
which absorbs the light, meaning no light passes through the
object. As light travels in straight lines the light cant bend
around the object. The shape of the object is blocked out as the
light cant transmit through causing the shadow to occur in the
shape of the object.
The light that isnt in direct line with the object isnt
obstructed so it travels like normal until it interacts with a
form of matter.

10

The angle of light behind the opaque object affects the shadow.
To get a perfect shaped shadow the source of light needs to be
in direct line with the object.

How can you test this?

How to make a shadow puppet show:

1. Photocopy or trace Professor Dorking on page 9 and cut

him out.
2. Stick the cut out onto a paddle pop stick making a puppet.
3. Ask a friend to hold up a piece of white paper in front
of the audience.
4. Hold up the puppet behind the piece of paper and
shine a torch on the puppet.
Watch what happens
Some things to think about

Can the audience see the colours of

Mr Dorking? Why/why not?
Can you use anything other then a piece
of white paper to show the shadows on?
Absorption: The removal of
energy from a beam of light.

Angle of incidence: The angle

that a straight line, ray of light
makes with a surface.

Deflected: Curved or bent

downwards.

Luminous: A producer
of
light.

Non-luminous: Not capable of

producing light but can reflect light
from another light source.

11

Obstruct: To block or make

difficult to pass.

Refraction: The change of direction of a ray

of light due to passing through dense
substances such as water or glass.
Thanks for
helping me
build the
science lab
word wall.

Reflection: When light

bounces off a surface it hits.

Transmit: To
let light pass
through.

White Light: Light that is

made up of all the colours
of the rainbow.

I hope you enjoyed

learning about light
energy as much as I
did!
-Dexter
Some things to try:

Work out how long it

takes for light energy to
get from a light source
to an object of your
choice, remembering
light travels at 297 000
kilometres per second or
297 000 000 metres
per second.
Try finding more objects
and materials around
the classroom that are
opaque, translucent and
transparent.
12
Draw a diagram and
write an explanation of

Author: Stephanie Cole

Carlingford, NSW, Australia.
Skamp, K.(Ed.). (2012) Teaching Primary Science Constructively (4th ed.). Sydney: Cengage Learning

13