Exploring the Properties of Light with Kids

Hey there! I'm excited to share that we've reached the Property of Light topic in our upper elementary physics class. My older child has been eagerly waiting for this subject, and for those of you with kids who are also interested in exploring this topic, you're in for a treat. We'll be exploring and defining some really cool properties of light in this material. So, get ready to learn some fascinating things!

We began by understanding the capabilities and limitations of light. We also touched upon the objects that can manipulate light, such as lenses and mirrors, which allow us to see better and achieve remarkable feats. During our discussion, we explored how lenses are utilized in cameras, eyeglasses, and contacts, as well as the usage of magnifiers, lighthouses, microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, and projectors.

After Vito had become familiar with everything, I introduced him to our Montessori 4 Part Cards.

REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

We then proceeded to investigate the true meaning of REFRACTION and REFLECTION. We compared and differentiated the two with some simple experiments. When light strikes a surface, a portion of it is reflected. Almost 100% of the incident light is reflected on a clean and polished metallic surface, whereas only a small amount is reflected on a clear glass surface. Light bends as it passes from one medium to another, which is called refraction.

UNDERSTANDING OPAQUE, TRANSPARENT AND TRANSLUCENT OBJECTS

When we observe objects through different materials, we can notice some interesting changes in their appearance. Transparent materials such as plastic allow light to pass through them without altering the object's appearance. However, when we view objects through translucent materials like wax paper, they tend to look blurry and dull, making it difficult to see them clearly. On the other hand, opaque materials such as cardboard do not allow any light to pass through them, which makes it impossible to see the object on the other side.

To see an object, its surface must reflect light back to our eyes. Transparent materials like clear plastic allow light to move straight through them, so the light bounces off the surface of the object and passes directly back through the transparent material to our eyes. In contrast, translucent materials like wax paper refract the light at different angles, causing the light waves to reflect off objects and refract a second time as they return through the paper. Opaque materials like cardboard absorb and reflect visible light, which is why no light passes through them, and we can't see the object on the other side.

FILTER

A filter is a unique material that only lets specific light colors pass through while blocking all the others. When white light passes through a filter, it contains all the colors we can see. For example, a red filter looks red because it reflects red light and lets it pass through.

Have you ever placed a colored folder on top of some writing? When you do this, only some of the white light can pass through the folder. The light that does pass through is reflected from the paper in the same color but is blocked by all the other colors. This means that the colored letters that absorb the light appear darker, while the ones that reflect the light seem to disappear. It's like magic! This happens because some colors of light blend in with the reflected waves.

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