Summary
What can appear and disappear instantly, move through solid objects, and travel across the universe? Light accomplishes all of these feats right before our eyes, every day. With the flick of a switch, it shows us what’s in a room by reflecting off objects. It moves right through glass windows, a phenomenon called transmission. And it heats our planet by traveling millions of miles from the Sun, until it’s eventually absorbed here on Earth. Many of light’s abilities and features have to do with the way it travels: as a wave. Depending on the distance between the peaks of a light wave, it might look green or red—or you might not be able to see it at all. We can see only a tiny sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum, the full range of light in the universe. Press “play” to get to know the many forms of light!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Light:
- What is one new thing you learned about light?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining light.
- Draw or give one example of your own.