Light is a special kind of energy that helps us see, grows plants through photosynthesis, and creates beautiful rainbows! It’s all around us, from the sun to a glowing bulb.
In this explorer, you’ll learn how light travels, how it interacts with objects, and how your eyes work to see the world. Let’s shine bright!
Light is energy that travels in straight lines, letting us see colors and shapes. It comes from natural sources like the sun and artificial ones like candles. Light helps plants grow and creates natural wonders like rainbows!
Light lets us see by reflecting off objects into our eyes. It helps plants make food through photosynthesis, which gives us oxygen and food. Light also creates rainbows and helps us stay warm!
Curious about light or how we see? Type your question below!
Light comes from natural sources like the sun or artificial ones like a torch. It’s vital for seeing, growing plants, and even warming our planet. Click each source to learn more!
Select a light source to see its details here.
Light travels in straight lines as rays or beams (parallel, convergent, or divergent). It forms shadows when blocked and creates phenomena like eclipses. Click the buttons to explore!
Light Rays & Beams: Light travels in straight lines as rays or beams (parallel, convergent, divergent).
Shadows: Form when light is blocked by opaque objects, creating dark areas behind.
Eclipses: A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks sunlight; a lunar eclipse happens when Earth’s shadow covers the moon.
Pin-Hole Camera: A simple device with a tiny hole that lets light form an inverted image on a screen.
Materials affect how light passes through them. Click each material to learn how it interacts with light!
Select a material to see its details here.
Reflection is when light bounces off surfaces like mirrors. Let’s explore its laws and uses!
Laws of Reflection:
Types: Regular (smooth surfaces like mirrors) and diffuse (rough surfaces like paper).
Plane Mirrors: Create virtual, upright, laterally inverted images.
Periscope: Uses two mirrors to see over obstacles. Try making one!
Make a Periscope:
Refraction is when light bends as it passes through materials like water or glass, creating effects like rainbows!
Principle: Light bends because it changes speed in different materials.
Effects: Objects in water look bent due to refraction (apparent depth).
Prisms: Bend light to create a spectrum of colors (ROYGBIV).
Rainbows: Form when sunlight refracts, disperses, and reflects in raindrops.
Lenses bend light to focus or spread it, used in glasses, cameras, and magnifying tools. Explore how they work!
Types:
Magnifying Glass: A convex lens that makes objects appear larger.
Lens Camera: Uses lenses to focus light onto a sensor, forming clear images.
Your eyes work like cameras to see the world! Click the parts to learn their functions and explore eye defects.
Select an eye part to see its details here.
Myopia (Nearsightedness): Can see close objects but not far ones; corrected with concave lenses.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Can see far objects but not close ones; corrected with convex lenses.
Take this fun quiz to see how much you’ve learned about light energy!
Try these fun activities to explore light in creative ways!
Rainbow Activity: Fill a glass with water, place it near a window with sunlight, and hold a white sheet to catch the refracted light spectrum.
Shadow Art: Shine a flashlight at different angles on objects like toys or hands to create fun shadow patterns.
DIY Periscope: Follow the periscope steps in the Reflection section to build your own!