Light Experiments

Experiment #1

Equipment: A coin, bowl, water.

Method: Put the bowl on a table and place the coin in the bottom. Keep looking at the coin and move slowly backwards until the coin disappears from view. Stay standing in the same place and ask a friend to pour water into the bowl.

Expected Result: You will find that you can see the coin again!

Explanation: The light from the coin is ‘bent’ (refracted) by the water so you can see it again.

This is a demonstration of refraction.

Experiment #2

Equipment: Comb, black paper, white paper, flashlight, mirror.

Method: Cut a small holes in a piece of card and tape a comb across the hole. In a darkened room, place the card in front of the torch, so that narrow beams of light come through the teeth of the comb. Hold a mirror in the beams of light so that it reflects the light. Move the mirror to a different angle.

Expected Result: The angle of the reflected rays will change.

Explanation: Light is reflected off the mirror at exactly the same angle as it hits the mirror.

This is a demonstration of reflection.