1. 713.22 Advanced Pedagogy and Curriculum II By
Light Energy & Color
MST Inquiry Unit
Advanced Pedagogy and Curriculum II By
Nicole Morris and Danielle Steger

2. Scavenger Hunt Facts about Light Color in Print The Color Spectrum
Unit Overview
Scavenger Hunt
Facts about Light
Color in Print
The Color Spectrum
What are Rainbows?
All About Shadows

3. What is light that it can play such tricks?
Scavenger Hunt
What is light that it can play such tricks?
Have you ever seen yourself in a fun house mirror? How could you suddenly become
twice as tall or four times as wide as you are?
Go to to find out.
How fast is light? How long does it take for light to travel from the sun to the Earth?
Go to to find out.
What happens when light hits a mirror? How can we change the direction of light hitting
a mirror?
Go to to
find out.
Filamentality Site:

4. What is light that it can play such tricks?
Scavenger Hunt
What is light that it can play such tricks?
What makes a shadow? How can we change the size of a shadow?
Go to
to find out.
Does a window give out light? Can a mirror be a light source?
Go to to
find out.
What is the real color of the sky? Are the primary colors of light the same as
the primary colors of pigments?
Go to to find out.
Filamentality Site:

5. Light Here are some things to think about:
Our brains and eyes act together to make extraordinary things happen in perception.
Light acts like that stream from the source.
Light also acts like waves that ripples in space.
This explains how rainbows work. In fact, light is both. This "wave-particle duality" is one of the most confusing—and wonderful—principles of physics.

6. Light and Dark Sources of Light Sources of Light Reflectors of Light
A source of light makes its own light. Examples are the sun and other stars, fires, torches and lamps.
Some animals such as fire-flies and glow worms are light sources. They make their own light to attract mates.
A mirror is not a light source because it reflects light.
The moon is not a light source because it reflects light from the sun.
You would not be able to see a reflector of light, such as a mirror, in a completely dark room.

7. Light and Dark Seeing Objects This is how we see the object:
We see a light source when light from the source enters our eyes.
When light from a light source hits an object, it is reflected (bounces off) and enters our eyes.
This is how we see the
object:

8. Bending Light Reflection occurs…
…when light bounces off objects.  If the
surface is rough, the light scatters.  If the
surface is smooth and flat, the light will
bounce off it at equal angles.  That is why
a flat mirror reflects a good likeness of the
object being reflected.
Refraction occurs…
…because light bends.  A lens is a piece
of transparent material.  It is usually made
of glass and has at least one curved
surface.

9. Color in Print Made From Dots
Color is more than decoration, and perceiving color is tricky. Let’s see how color interacts
and how we can use color as a scientific tool.
Made From Dots
Have you ever looked at a magazine picture through a strong magnifying glass?
- You will find that it is made up of dots.
- Look at the babies nose:
One as if it were a photographic print, and the other as if it were a magazine photo, blown up 200, 400, and 800 times.

10. Take a look at colored light interacting to make new colors:
The Color Spectrum
Did you know that the primary colors of light and the primary colors of pigments are different?
The primary colors of pigment are red, blue, and yellow but the primary colors of light are red, blue, and GREEN.
Light behaves differently than paint when you mix the colors. If you add all 3 primary colors of light you get… WHITE!
Take a look at colored light interacting to make new colors:

11. The Color Spectrum
Now take a look at the color wheel. Look at the pigments your
printer mixes together to print your work in the computer lab:

12. Ball and Ramp
Can you manipulate the distance your ball will roll by changing the angle of the ramp?
Ball Type
Angle of Ramp in Degrees
Ping Pong 7
Styrofoam 25
Marble 3
Notice how the properties of the ball can change the angle required.

13. What are Rainbows?
Rainbows are the reflection and refraction of light through small droplets of water suspended in the air. The water bends light as it enters the droplets.
The colors are there because light is a wave and each color is a different size wave. They get bent by the water and the waves are separated from each other.

14. What are Rainbows? When the waves get separated, we see them in bands
in the sky stacked from shortest, to the longest.

15. Shadows What is a shadow? Why does your shadow seem
longer at certain times of the day?
A shadow is created when light hits an opaque object. When light is blocked, a shadow appears.

16. At what time of day is your shadow the shortest? Why?
Shadows
You can measure your shadow throughout the day
and graph the data. A line graph is a great way to
show change over time:
At what time of day is your shadow the shortest? Why?
At what time of day is your shadow the shortest? Why?

17. Shadows Your shadow is the shortest at noon because…
The sun is at its highest point- right overhead. Sunlight shines down from straight above you. You block less light and your shadow is smaller.

18. Shadows Your shadow is longer in the morning and afternoon because…
In the morning and afternoon the sun is lower and will be shining down on you at an angle. More of you will be blocking the light.

19. Please continue
our learning journey
on light energy
and color...