By Karen Rice
Official Kids Mag
Learning about light and the way it works is important in many
fields of science.
Astronomers know that the cycle of day and night is caused by the
earth rotating on its axis with different sides facing toward or away
from the sun.
Biologists know that certain plants grow better in the sunlight or in
the shade.
Engineers develop technologies that involve light energy such as
LED screens and solar energy panels.
Light travels in straight lines. When light reaches an object, it
travels through the object if the object is transparent or translucent.
The light is reflected if the object is shiny. The light is absorbed if the
object is opaque.
transparent materials are things that light travels through and
are completely see through—like windows, clear bottles or food
containers, cellophone, and clear plastic bags.
translucent materials are things light travels through. They are
kind of see through—things like waxed paper, tissue paper and cloudy
plastic (like a milk jug).
reflective materials are things that light bounces off, like mirrors
and shiny objects.
opaque materials absorb light and are NOT see through, like
construction paper, cardboard or aluminum foil. When light hits an
opaque object, it blocks the light's path, then darkness appears on
the other side. This darkness is called a shadow.
Go outside on a sunny day go outside and look at the shadows
created by different objects.
Look for some objects around your home that are transparent,
translucent, reflective and opaque.
students at Immaculate conception
school in Fort smith recently learned
about light and how it travels through
objects, with a Discovery education
mystery science lesson called "What
if there were no windows?" they also
used tissue paper and Glad Press'n
seal® to create works of art.
Photo courtesy of 3m and Discovery
education.
For more information and to access
no-cost resources for teachers,
students, and families, please visit:
www.youngscientistlab.com
Let's learn about
light
26 • DecemBer 2022 • www.officialKidsmag.com
