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
Magnifying glass experiment: How does your computer and TV make colors?
How does a color TV show colors? How does a computer monitor show colors? Use a hand magnifier to see how a computer or color TV displays such a wide range of colors.
Equipment needed:
A good hand magnifier. A standard low-power magnifying glass will work, although, like other optics, you get what you pay for. A nice Hastings Triplet Magnifier will cost more, but between the 10X magnification and the clear, distortion-free image I think it’s worth it if you plan to use it much.
A color display. Like the one you are probably using right now to read this. Although, if you only have a low-power magnifier, it will be easier to see how it works if you use a color television instead of a computer display.
The Digital Bits Science Lab Experiment:
Look at the test pattern picture below with your magnifier. (Click on the photo to view the full-size version.)
You can also turn on your TV to something that shows different colors and look at that.
What you will see is that, close up, the screen really only shows three colors: tiny rectangles of red, green, and blue. The rectangles are so small that, from a distance, they all blur together and your eye mixes the colors.
To make different colors, the display makes the rectangles brighter and dimmer. If you look at the test pattern picture, you can see that each color is different brightnesses of the colored rectangles.
Other articles related to this topic:
- How to make your own rainbow, and meet “Roy G. Biv”
- Learn colors and color combinations with food coloring
- Learn about colors, color combinations and chemical reactions with Color Dotz
- Build a CD spinner and learn color combinations
- Color mixing with plastic tiles