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Refraction and Reflection Matchcard

The Refraction and Reflection Matchcard are from the Light and Energy Unit Study. This project will explain and demonstrate the refraction, reflection, and absorption of light waves.

science-matchcard

Refraction and Reflection Matchcard

Objective: Describe refraction, reflection and absorption of light.

When light hits an object it is either absorbed (viewed as a colored object), refracted (bent), or reflected (bounced off the surface.)

Refraction

Refraction is the bending of light. Here is a common illustration that demonstrates the phenomenon:

Use a transparent glass.

Fill it 3/4 with water.

Put a straw, pencil, knife, or fork into the water.

When viewed from the side, it looks like the object is bent.

Explanation: Light waves pass through different media at different speeds. The light waves go slower through water than through air, giving the illustion that the object is bent.

Reflection

Reflection is the bouncing of light waves off of the surface of an object.

Use a flashlight and a mirror. Shine the light at the mirror and notice the beam of light reflecting off.

Change the angle of the light so it hits the surface at a 45% angle. Note the angle that the light is reflected off.

Draw a diagram showing the angles of light.

Convex and Concave
Using a metal spoon, discuss convex (curve outward) and concave (curve inward) surfaces.

Have the student note their reflection in the spoon. Which surface makes the image look larger? Smaller?

The Hunt
Sit in your room and note all the surfaces from which light is reflecting (shiny surfaces.)

Keep a record for a month of examples of reflection the student notes in their daily life. Examples: reflection strips at night, cats eyes, reflection in a pond.

Absorption of Light

When light hits a non-reflecting surface, the light waves are absorbed by the object. However, the light waves that are the same color as the object are not absorbed. Instead, those light waves bounce off the surface, are transmitted to the human eye, and are interpreted as the color of the object.

Go into a closet, or pitch black room without any windows. It should be dark enough you see no objects. Slowly, let a little light in, either by opening the door a crack, or turning on a flashlight whose beam is almost completely covered. You should start to see the outline of objects, but not able to recognize their color. Slowly, allow more light into the room so objects are more distinct. Little by little, add the amount of light in the room. Note when the color of the objects are recognizable.

To increase the challenge of this activity, you might want to have a set of items like blocks or marbles that come in different colors. Otherwise, the child might easily recognize the color of items that are already familiar.

Using the Refraction and Reflection Matchcard

This is the second Matchcard of the Light and Energy Unit Study. You can download the Refraction and Reflection Matchcard here.

The student matches the characteristics of objects that refract, reflect, or absorb light waves with the illustration of each.

The second page is the Instructor's Guide with the correct answers.

The third page has the Information Pieces. Student's cut them apart and place them in the correct place on their copy of the Matchcard (first page.)

For more information on how to use the Matchcards, see the MatchCard Science Instructor's Guide.

MatchCard Science

The activities and illustration above are from MatchCard Science, a homeschool science unit study. For the complete Light and Energy Unit Study follow this link. This unit study provides:

hands-on demonstrations
MatchCard reviews to master the material
suggestions for science projects to complete
instructions on a complete unit study curriculum

Currently this curriculum is under-going revision. We are providing free access to the unit study, with the desire that you will provide feedback as you are field testing the materials.

Science Notebook

If you are just using this single project, and are not in need of a full unit study, you might want your student to complete a science notebook entry for this project.

Return from the Refraction and Reflection MatchCard to the MatchCard Science Main Page.