4-5.2 Illustrate the fact that light, as a form of energy, is made up of many different colors.
Light as a Form of Energy & Its Colors
Essential Question: How can white light be changed into the colors of a rainbow?
What Is Light?
Light is a form of energy. Energy is the ability to make something move, happen, or change. There are many different forms of energy. Light is energy we can see.
Light is Made of Many Colors
As you have learned, white light is made up of different colors of light mixed together. Each color that you see in a rainbow has a different amount of energy.
A clear object that splits light into all the colors of the rainbow is called a prism. Most prisms are made of clear glass or plastic. They have flat, polished sides. When white light passes through a prism, each color of light takes a different path.
The diagram shows how this happens. The whole rainbow of colors is called the spectrum.
You may have seen a rainbow after a rainstorm. That is because raindrops act like tiny prisms. When sunlight shines on them, the drops of water separate the white light into different colors.
Essential Question: How can white light be changed into the colors of a rainbow?
What Is Light?
Light is a form of energy. Energy is the ability to make something move, happen, or change. There are many different forms of energy. Light is energy we can see.
Light is Made of Many Colors
As you have learned, white light is made up of different colors of light mixed together. Each color that you see in a rainbow has a different amount of energy.
A clear object that splits light into all the colors of the rainbow is called a prism. Most prisms are made of clear glass or plastic. They have flat, polished sides. When white light passes through a prism, each color of light takes a different path.
The diagram shows how this happens. The whole rainbow of colors is called the spectrum.
You may have seen a rainbow after a rainstorm. That is because raindrops act like tiny prisms. When sunlight shines on them, the drops of water separate the white light into different colors.
Learning Task #1:
Discovery Ed Techbooks: ● Color Answer the following questions: 1. What is white light? 2. Why do objects have color? 3. How is white light different from other kinds of light? Learning Task #2: Use a prism and flashlight to demonstrate how white light is converted into colors through refraction. Students will illustrate the outcome of the light refraction in their science notebooks. Learning Task #3: DE Reading Passage: ● Seeing the Light and Colors Reading Passage Using our DBQ format, write a paragraph (5-7 sentences) of time, place, and story. Learning Task #4: Journal Entry: Write like a Scientist: Colors of White Light |
Resources:
ABDO e-Book: ● Light in the Real World - Ch3 Lerner e-Book: ● Investigating Light Discovery Ed Techbooks: ● Color ● Color Exploration DE Reading Passages: ● Look Up Reading Passage ● Seeing the Light and Colors Reading Passage DE Videos: ● Light and Color ● Creating a Rainbow ● Color of Light |