THE PROPERTIES OF LIGHT
Please head up your books
Name:
Grade: 6
Subject: Science
Topic: Properties of Light
Focus Question:
By the end of the lesson students
should be able to:
1. Investigate the properties of light.
2. Carry out fair tests and draw conclusions
from observation.
What are the
different
sources of
light in your
environment?
Classify sources of light as natural
or artificial.
Natural Artificial
What is
light?
What are
some
sources of
light?
Define
natural and
artificial
light.
What is light?
• Light is a form of radiant energy that you
can detect with your eyes. Light energy
comes from chemical energy, electrical
energy and nuclear energy.
We see things because they
reflect light into our eyes! This
is literally the only way we get
to see things! ALL objects we
see either create light or
reflect light!!
Properties of Light
• Light waves can travel through
certain kinds of matter, such
as air or clear glass.
• Light can also travel empty
space. This is how light from
the Sun reaches the Earth and
other planets.
Light travels in straight lines:
Laser
Light travels much faster than sound. For
example:
1) Thunder and
lightning start at
the same time,
but we will see the
lightning first
2) When a starting
pistol is fired we
see the smoke first
and then hear the
bang.
Light travels VERY FAST – about
300,000 kilometers per second or
186,000 miles per second.
ed
p e
s s d
h i ul
t co
A ht the of 8
t
lig vel lent nd
tra uiva arou n
i
eq es rld d!
tim wo con
h e se
t e
Experiment 1
Procedure:
How does light
Look at the flame of a candle or any other light source travel?
through a straw with one eye (keep the other eye
closed).
Then bend the straw and look through it.
Conclusion and Questions:
1. What did you observe when you looked through
the straight straw?
2. What happens when you bend the straw?
3. Why can light be seen through the straight straw?
4. What does the experiment prove about the path
light travels?
Experiment 2 How does water bends
(refracts) light and
Procedure:
Place a pencil into a clear container with water. changes the images we
Look at the pencil from the top of the container. see?
Look at the pencil from the sides of the container.
Conclusion and Questions:
1. How does the pencil appear in the water?
2. Look at the pencil below the surface and then at
the surface of the water. What appears to happen
to the pencil at the water level?
3. Describe any changes to the pencil's appearance.
4. Make a diagram to show what you observe about
the pencil in the water.
How does a mirror bounce
Experiment 3 (reflect) light and change
Procedure:
Lay the torch / flashlight on its side on a table in a dark its direction?
room.
Shine the torch on an object or on the wall
Then hold a mirror in front of the torch.
Conclusion and Questions:
1. What can you see?
2. How do we know the light is there?
3. What happens when you try to hold the light?
4. How could you change the path of the light?
5. Where does the beam of light shine?
6. Is the light beam where you thought it would land?
7. What was the purpose of the mirror?
8. What other good light reflectors might you be able to
use if you did not have a mirror?
a. How did your predictions differ
from your results?What
surprised you?
b. What new questions do you
have?
c. What did you like or not like
about this activity?
Watch the video below
then read pages 70 and
71 from The Mission
Science Book 6
Properties of Light TIER 1
1. What is the difference between artificial and natural light
sources?
2. Natural
Fill in the table with examples
Artificial of artificial and natural light
sources
3.What are some properties of light?
4. What causes a shadow?
Answer the following questions. TIER 2
1. Name one property of light
2. Describe how one of the investigations
demonstrates this.
3. Draw a diagram to show how light travels.
The following are all statements about the properties
of light. Indicate with a tick if you agree or disagree
with each statement.
Statements Agree Disagre
e
Light travels in straight lines in all
directions from a source.
A source of light is anything that emits
light, whether natural and artificial.
The sun is an artificial source of light.
TIER 3
Properties of Light
1)
Summary
Light travels in straight lines and is a form of
energy.
2) Light travels much faster (a million times
faster!) than sound.
3) We see things because they reflect light into
our eyes.
4) Light can be reflected.
5) Light refracts (bends) when passing from
one medium into another.
