Basic concept of light

Light is the visible form of energy that lets us see colors, shapes, and the world around us.

Simple Light Facts

Light travels as waves that our eyes can detect. Important things to know:

  • Travels in straight lines (called rays)
  • Moves incredibly fast (300,000 km per second)
  • Can bounce off mirrors (reflection)
  • Bends when moving through water/glass (refraction)
  • White light contains all rainbow colors

Fun Fact: Sunlight takes 8 minutes to reach Earth from 150 million km away!

Everyday Light Examples

Rainbows

Form when sunlight bends through raindrops, separating into colors

Shadows

Created when light is blocked by objects

Try This Light Experiment

Make a Rainbow at Home

You'll need: A glass of water, white paper, and sunlight

  1. Place the glass near a sunny window
  2. Hold the paper behind the glass
  3. Tilt until you see rainbow colors!

This works because the water bends different colors by different amounts.