Anything and (Most) Everything You Need to Know About Light!!!!

 Light is a form of energy that travels to the Earth from the Sun. Light travels in waves.  Without light (and heat) from the Sun, life on Earth would not exist. Plants could not carry out photosynthesis.  Bad news for us: All food chains begin plants. No photosynthesis, no plants, no food, no us!!!!!

 White light that we see is actually made up of seven colors that create the spectrum.  ROY G. BIV stands for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

 All matter has pigment. The pigment absorbs some colors and reflects others. The color we see is the color it reflects.  A banana reflects the color yellow and absorbs all of the other colors of the spectrum.  Grass reflects the color green and absorbs all of the other colors of the spectrum.  A carrot reflects the color orange and absorbs all of the other colors of the spectrum.

 Light travels in waves in a straight line in all directions until it strikes an object.  When it strikes our eyes, we SEE it!!!

 Reflection- light is reflected, or changes directions by striking shiny surfaces, such as a mirror.

 Refraction- the bending of light as it passes from one material to another. Things that “bend” light: water, magnifying glasses, eye glasses, and binoculars.  This shows us that light travels at different speeds through different materials.

 Absorption- objects absorb and block light, casting shadows. The closer an object is to a light source, the bigger the shadow.

 Transparent- materials allow all light that falls on them to pass through.  In other words, you can clearly see through a transparent object.  Example: glass (window)

 Translucent- materials allow light to pass through them, but not very clearly.  Examples: shower curtains, stained-glass windows

 Opaque- materials do NOT ALLOW ANY light to pass through them.  Example: anything that creates a shadow