The Digital Bits Science Labs are fun science experiments for young children. Kids, make sure you have an adult's permission before trying any of these science experiments.
Digital Bits Science Lab
Science Experiments for Kids, Parents and Teachers
Introduction to refraction
Description:
Refraction happens when when light is bent as it moves. Instead of going in a straight line, it appears to turn, curve or bend.
Equipment Needed:
A flashlight
A glass (it should be as wide or wider than the head of your flashlight)
Water
The Digital Bits Science Lab Experiment:
To make light refract, you need to pass it through two different substances. In this example, the two substances are air and water. Fill up a glass of water. Place a flashlight flat on a table, so that the light is pointed straight through the center of the glass. Turn on the flashlight, turn out the lights, and you’ll see light passing straight through the glass, like this:
Next, simply roll the flashlight. Don’t actually turn it, just move the entire flashlight up and down in relation to the glass. Even though the light is still coming straight out of the flashlight, the light will be refracted (bent) as it moves through the water in the glass. The refractive qualities of the water (and the shape of the water within the glass) will bend the light as you see in the picture below:
Looking at this with better lighting, examine the red line in the picture below. That indicates the path the light takes as it’s refracted. Again, this is caused by the water refracting the light, and the position of the flashlight in relation to the glass:
Other articles related to this topic:
- How to make your own rainbow, and meet “Roy G. Biv”
- See refraction in a glass of water
- Learn about volume and space with ice water
- Easy electrolysis – how to make your own hydrogen
- Duplicating the Greenhouse Effect