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For ages 8 and older.
Have you ever noticed the colors of the rainbow or the colors that
sometimes appear on the wall when light passes through a glass of
water? In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) conducted a series of
experiments that showed that "white" light is actually a combination
of colors mixed together. In 1704, Newton published his findings in
a book titled Opticks.
You will need
- flashlight
- red, green, and blue transparent cellophane
- scissors
- sheet of white paper
What to do
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Cut the cellophane into pieces large enough to be wrapped around
the flashlight lens.
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Darken the room but not so much that you cannot see the
different colors of the light filters (the cellophane).
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Turn on the flashlight and shine it on the paper. Note the color
of the light.
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Place a colored filter over the flashlight lens. Make sure the
filter is placed flat (no bunches) over the lens. Hold the
flashlight about 2 inches from the paper. What color do you see?
How does it compare to the color of the cellophane?
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Experiment with different-colored filters. Take notes about the
different things you try. What happens to the color of the light
when only one filter is used? Next, try holding two different
filters over the lens. What happens? Try different color
combinations.
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Make a prediction. What do you think will happen to the color of
the light if you place a red, green, and blue filter over the
lens at the same time? What color is the light on the paper? Try
placing the filters over the lens in a different order. Does the
order change the color of the light in any way? Record and
compare your results. Why do you think you got the color you
did?
Learning More
Science for Fun: Light and Color
by Gary Gibson. Copper Beech, 1995.
Includes simple experiments relating to the basic principles of
light and lenses.
Science, Optics and You
micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/index.html
Provides background information, hands-on activities, and
interactive simulations regarding several aspects of optics and
light.
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The Colors of White Light
Light is a form of energy. What we see as colors are
actually different wavelengths of light. For example,
light with a long wavelength appears red, while light
with a short wavelength appears violet. White light
contains all the different wavelengths of visible light.
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