The Magic of Light

1. The Magic of Light

2. What is light? • Our primary source of light is the sun. • Light travels in straight lines at a speed of 186,000miles per second. • *Light waves travel faster than sound waves! • Light energy from the sun travels through space , reaches earth, and some of it turns to heat energy and warms the earth’s air. • Light from the sun also travels to the cells of green plants (producers) and is stored as energy. • When light reaches an object, it is absorbed, reflected, or passes through it.

3. “Just Passing Through:” What happens when light strikes glass? Or waxed paper? Or a book? • If light travels through an object it is transparent. • If light is blocked by an object and a dark shadow is cast it is opaque. • If some light passes through but not all and a light shadow is present it is translucent.

4. Transparent objects: • The windows on a school bus, • A clear empty glass, • A clear window pane, • The lenses of some eyeglasses, • Clear plastic wrap, • The glass on a clock, • A hand lens, • Colored glass… • ALL of these are transparent. Yes, we can see through them because light passes through each of them.

5. Translucent Materials • Thin tissue paper, • Waxed paper, • Tinted car windows, • Frosted glass, • Clouds, • All of these materials are translucent and allow some light to pass but the light cannot be clearly seen through.

6. Out of Darkness: An Introduction to Light • http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search