reflection of light experiments

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Light Refraction Experiment

March 30, 2020 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

This light refraction experiment might be one of the most simple to set up science experiments we’ve ever tried. It is a bit tricky to explain, but impressive even if you can’t quite get your head around it!

If you like this activity don’t forget to check out out our other easy science experiments for kids .

Materials for Light Refraction Experiment

Paper or card

Instructions

Fill the glass almost to the top.

Draw arrows on one piece of of card or paper. Place the paper behind the glass and watch as the arrow points the other way.

Now try to think of a word that still makes sense if you put it behind the glass.

We tried bud , the green ( badly drawn ) plant is on the opposite side when the paper is not behind the glass.

NOW works well too 🙂

How does this work?

Refraction ( bending of light ) happens when light travels between two mediums. In the refraction experiment above light travels from the arrow through the air, through the glass, the water, the glass again and air again before reaching your eyes.

The light reaching your eye (or in this case our camera) coming from the arrow is refracted through the glass of water. In fact the glass of water acts like a convex lens (like you might have in a magnifying glass). Convex lenses bend light to a focal point . This is the point at which the light from an object crosses.

The light that was at the tip of the arrow is now on the right side and the light on the right side is now on the left as far as your eye is concerned (assuming you are further away from the glass than the focal point.

If you move the arrow image closer to the glass than the focal point it will be the way around you expect it to be!

More Refraction experiments

Create an Alice in Wonderland themed version of this too!

Find out how to make your own magnifying glass .

We’ve also got a fun disappearing coin trick .

Or try our light maze to learn about reflection .

Last Updated on February 22, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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Top 15 Light Related Science Experiments

Light experiments lets us unlock some of nature’s most intriguing riddles and appreciate the magic that illuminates our everyday experiences.

We have carefully selected the best light-related experiments, prioritizing fun and educational experiences that will surely engage young minds.

Our compilation of light experiments will illuminate the minds of students and teachers alike. This curated collection offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore the captivating world of light through hands-on activities.

1. Potato Light Bulb

Prepare to be amazed by the power of potatoes in our extraordinary potato light bulb experiments! In these captivating experiments, students will discover the remarkable ability of a humble potato to generate electricity and light up an LED bulb.

Learn more: Potato Light Bulb

2. Bending Light

In these mesmerizing light experiments, students have the opportunity to unravel the mysteries of refraction and explore the wonders of bending light.

3. Light Refraction

By engaging in these experiments, students will not only witness the mesmerizing effects of light refraction but also gain a deeper understanding of the scientific principles behind it.

4. Newton’s Light Spectrum Experiment

Step into the fascinating world of light and color with Newton’s Light Spectrum Experiment! Inspired by the groundbreaking discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton, these captivating experiments will take students on a journey to explore the nature of light.

5. Newton’s Prism Experiment

Learn about optics and unravel the mysteries of light with Newton’s Prism Experiment. Inspired by Sir Isaac Newton’s groundbreaking discoveries, these experiments offer a thrilling opportunity for students to explore the phenomenon of light dispersion and the creation of a vivid spectrum of colors.

6. Total Internal Reflection

These experiments provide a hands-on opportunity for students to observe and investigate how total internal reflection can be harnessed in practical applications such as fiber optics and reflective surfaces.

7. Colored Light Experiments

Prepare to immerse yourself in a vibrant world of colors with these captivating colored light experiments! In these hands-on activities, students will uncover the magic of colored light and its intriguing properties.

8. Capture a Light Wave

By employing innovative techniques and tools, students will learn how to capture and analyze light waves, unraveling the secrets hidden within their intricate patterns.

9. Home-made Kaleidescope

Unleash your creativity and embark on a mesmerizing journey of light and patterns with our homemade kaleidoscope experiments! By constructing your very own kaleidoscope, you’ll unlock optical wonders.

Learn more: Home-made Kaleidescope

10. Push Things with Light

Through engaging hands-on activities, students will experiment with the fascinating principles of photon momentum and the transfer of energy through light.

11. Erase Light with a Laser: The Photon Experiment

Can light be erased? Through hands-on activities, students will discover surprising answers. By utilizing lasers, students will learn about the principles of photon absorption and emission, investigating whether it is possible to erase light.

12. Exploring Shapes and Patterns on a Mirror Box

By creating your own mirror box, you’ll learn about optical illusions and reflections. In these experiments, students will explore the fascinating interplay between light, mirrors, and geometry.

Learn more: Exploring Shapes and Patterns on a Mirror Box

13. Electromagnetic Spectrum Experiment

Get ready for an illuminating adventure as we dive into the fascinating world of visible light where students will have the opportunity to explore the electromagnetic spectrum and unravel the mysteries of light.

 14. Light Patterns in a Box

By manipulating light sources and objects, students will witness the magic of shadows, diffraction, and interference, resulting in a dazzling display of intricate patterns and colors.

Learn more: Light Patterns in a Box

15. Light Maze

Prepare to navigate a mesmerizing journey through the enchanting world of light with our captivating light maze experiments! In these immersive activities, students will learn about the magic of manipulating light to create intricate mazes and pathways.

Similar Posts:

• 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
• Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• Top 58 Creative Art Activities for Kids and Preschoolers

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Hands On As We Grow®

Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

3 Super Simple Light Experiments for Kids to Do

Literacy & ABCs Science Toddlers Grade School Kindergartners Preschoolers Experiment Paper Plates 19 Comments

Science experiments are always a big hit in my house and this light experiment for kids will brighten everyone’s day – literally!

3 Super Simple Light Experiments for Kids

What three things can light do? This is the guiding question for this simple and fun light experiment for kids.

To Set up Your Own Simple Light Science Experiment, You’ll Need:

• Magnifying glass
• Paper plate or anything opaque
• Piece of paper

Try our favorite 50 simple science experiments .

Talking About Science Basics with Kids

Science activities are always a great time to practice using fun science terms. This simple light science experiment introduces three new ones:

• penetrate: or when light will pass through an object to be visible on the other side
• reflect: or when the light bounces back at you, like with a mirror or something shiny
• stop: or when the light is blocked, not reflecting or penetrating
• variable: what changes in different steps on the experiment

It can help if you write down these words and their meanings on a piece of paper or flashcards.

You could use actual words or draw a picture.

For older kids, you could also dive a little bit deeper. I love this quick explanation about the properties of light from Ducksters .

Before Your Light Experiments for Kids

This simple science experiment includes an opportunity for making predictions and recording observations.

Predicting is just making a guess based on what you already know.

You could get started by asking your kids: “What do you know about light?”

Create a quick and simple legend for the light experiment.

Write down your children’s predictions and make a quick chart. One column is for the prediction and the other is for the observation, plus some rows for the variables.

Label the rows with the names of your three objects, or variables (what’s changing each time). Hint: mirror, magnifying glass, plate, etc.

At the top of one column write: “What will the light do?” . (Prediction)

And then above the other column, write: “What does the light do?” . (Observations)

As you experiment, you’ll also jot down what happens with the light, or what you observe. Observe and observation in science is just a fancy way to explain telling what you saw happening during the experiment.

Ask these helpful questions as you predict what happens:

• Will the light penetrate the paper plate or will it stop?
• Will the light reflect off of the magnifying glass or penetrate?
• And will the mirror stop the light?

Take time to look at each object, discuss the three terms associated with light (penetrate, reflect, stop).

Make predictions, or guesses, about what the light will do with each object.

Write your predictions in the first column of the chart.

Now Experiment with Light Together

Once your predictions are made and the properties of light have been discussed, it’s time to do the experiment.

Choose the first object and have your kids shine the flashlight at the object.

Watch how the light reacts with the object. Does it shine through, shine back at you, or stop completely?

Record on your observation chart what the light did with that object. Check to see if your predictions were correct.

Keep going with the rest of the objects, making sure to observe and record your findings.

Our Easy Light Experiments for Kids

We chose the mirror first. My son held the mirror and my daughter used the flashlight.

I encouraged them to explain what they noticed about the light. Both recognized that the light was shining back at us, or reflecting.

We talked for a minute about using “refect” to describe what the light was doing.

Keep shining with a simple indoor reflection activity !

My daughter wrote “reflect” in our observation column on our chart. I helped her with the spelling, but only a little.

The Paper Plate

Our second variable for the light experiment was the paper plate. This time my kids switched roles with my daughter holding the plate and my son shining the flashlight at the object.

My kids quickly noticed that the light didn’t go anywhere except for on the plate.

We discussed together how this showed that the light stopped because the plate blocks or stops the light. I also added in the word “opaque,” which means that light does not pass through.

My son recorded “stop” for the plate.

You can also introduce the word “absorb” to your kids at this point in the experiment, as that is another term for stopping the light.

Originally, the kids had thought that the plate might reflect the light. Our prediction was incorrect and we talked about that for a minute or so.

Learn more about opaque objects with a fun shadow play activity !

The Magnifying Glass

Our final object was the magnifying glass. It was my turn to shine the light as both my kids held the object.

This time the light went through the magnifying glass, shining onto the floor below. I shared the term “transparent,” meaning that light passes completely through, as we talked about this part of the experiment.

I recorded our findings on the chart. We reviewed each object and outcome together while comparing our observations to our predictions.

Keep Playing with Light!

Even though we had finished the “formal” experiment, my kids kept the learning going! They ran through the house, shining the flashlight on all sorts of objects and saying whether the light reflected, stopped, or penetrated.

I love how much ownership they took of their learning!

We love playing with a fun flashlight scavenger hunt for kids !

This fun extension activity went on for quite a while. And it’s something that I know I can keep returning to again and again, adding more challenging terminology as they grow.

What are some other fun science experiments for kids you have done? We’d love to check-out your creative learning ideas!

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About Alisha Warth

I have raised my children doing activities with them. As a homeschool mom, I am always looking for ways to make our learning fun. I'm honored to be able to contribute my ideas to the awesome site that is Hands On As We Grow.

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19 comments.

Stacey A Johnson says

November 24, 2020 at 8:46 pm

This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing! I have been putting science bags together to send home for my kinders because we are doing online school….I was looking for some light activities because we are going to tie them into the holidays we study in December. (The idea that most celebrations, customs, rituals, use some sort of light) I can’t wait to do this with them!

MaleSensePro says

February 10, 2020 at 11:29 pm

Its a great learning experience.. its indeed the best kind of way kids should learn, thanks for sharing :)

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Light Science for Kids: Ways to Explore Refraction and Reflection

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read more on our disclosure page .

Here’s a fun collection of light science for kids ! You’ll find light science experiments about both light refraction and light reflection in this science roundup.

Follow our Science for Kids Pinterest board!

Because we have been having so much fun with our most recent light science activities, I decided to round up some more fun science ideas for kids having to do with light. You’ll find ideas for examining light refraction (the bending of light) and light reflection (when light bounces off an object) in this collection, as well as science experiments for various ages- from preschool and on up!

10+ Light Science Activities for Kids

Light refraction and rainbow science.

Make a Spectroscope Using a Cardboard Tube from Buggy and Buddy

Explore Light Patterns with a CD and Paper from Buggy and Buddy

Rainbow Science: Exploring Prisms from Buggy and Buddy

Light Box Magic from  True Aim

Making a Rainbow with Water and a Mirror from No Twiddle Twaddle

Light Refraction with Water

Water Refraction Science Experiment from What Do We Do All Day?

How to Make a Magnifying Glass from Science Sparks

Light Reflection and Mirrors

How to Make a Kaleidoscope from Buggy and Buddy

Exploring Reflections with Mirrors from Buggy and Buddy

Water, Mirrors, and Reflection from My Nearest and Dearest

Exploring Shapes and Patterns in a Mirror Box from The Imagination Tree

Exploring Reflections with Mirrors from Little Bins for Little Hands

Explore Light Patterns with a Mylar Light Box from Buggy and Buddy

Find more STEM activities in our ebook! Learn more about it here , or b uy it now here !

Chelsey was previously an elementary teacher for 12 years and is now creating, playing, and learning at home with her two children. You can follow Buggy and Buddy on Twitter or Facebook by clicking on the icons below.

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Simple Reflection of Light Experiment for Kids

Try this reflection of light experiment with your kids. It’s easy! Just grab a flashlight and some everyday objects. Then ask kids to reflect the beam onto the wall.

Ms. Sneed Prepares Her Reflection of Light Experiment

Our favorite fourth grade teacher sat at the side table with her teaching partner. “Let’s continue planning our light energy unit . Next up: reflection of light. It’s another science station, so kids will work in their lab groups.”

“Okay, I’ll pull up the lab sheet,” Mr. Frank replied.

Gathering the Materials

As usual, Ms. Sneed headed toward the science cupboard. Before too long, she returned with a flashlight and a baggie full of everyday objects.

“What do we have here?” she said as she dumped the contents of the bag. “Yep, some shiny, some dark or bumpy, and some in between.”

Mr. Frank chuckled. “Looks like everything but the kitchen sink. But seriously, what an easy lab! With just a flashlight and some random materials – all found right in our classrooms – we can conduct this simple experiment.”

“Yes, and keeping it in a baggie from year to year saves us a bundle of time.”

Positioning the Flashlight

“Hmm,” said Mr. Frank. “I can’t remember exactly how this reflection lab goes.” He picked up a Christmas ornament and the flashlight. Then he walked toward the wall.

“I know that we shine the beam on the object.” He turned on the flashlight. Holding the ornament directly in front of him, he shone the light on it. Unfortunately, the beam bounced off the ornament and onto his dark sweater, where it was absorbed.”

“No,” Ms. Sneed giggled. “Let me show you.” Without a beat, Mr. Frank handed her the flashlight and ornament. Then, as she stood perpendicular to the wall, Ms. Sneed trained the flashlight beam so that it bounced onto the side of the ornament and onto the wall.

“Aha. You shone it almost straight at the wall but with the ornament in between. Maybe at a 140 degree angle? Obviously, I’ll have to model this for my students. Otherwise, they’ll spend too much time figuring it out.”

“Good idea. In my opinion, the actual angle doesn’t matter. Just so the beam bounces onto the wall. That way, kids can analyze how much light actually reflected off of the object.”

Categorizing Reflection of Light

Mr. Frank looked at the screen of his laptop. “The reflection lab sheet has three columns. For the first, kids list stuff that reflects. In other words, all or most light bounces back. For the second, they write objects that partially reflect. And in the third, they place items that absorb.”

Experiment with Reflection of All (or Most) Light

As Ms. Sneed picked through the pile of objects, she pushed shiny things to the side. “When the flashlight shines on the CD, mirror, metal lid, and ornament, all or most of the beam will bounce onto the wall.”

Mr. Frank nodded. “At the bottom of the page, kids have to list words that describe objects that reflect all or most light. Looking at these objects, I’d say ‘shiny.’ What other words could they use?”

“Words like ‘smooth,’ ‘dense,’ and ‘hard’ would also work.”

Experiment with Reflection of Some Light

Next, Ms. Sneed pulled out items that had a little – but not much – luster: a piece of Styrofoam, a plastic lid, and a base-ten block. “For this reflection of light lab, I’d say these fall into the partial column.”

Mr. Frank looked at the remaining items. “Hey, what about this hand lens? It’s dense and smooth, but when the beam hits it, part of it will pass through. That will really make kids think.”

As he spoke, Ms. Sneed picked up a white paper plate. “Hmm, I suppose this will also go in the middle column. Some light will reflect when the flashlight beam hits it.”

Experiment with Absorption of Light

Both teachers looked at the remaining items in the pile: a wadded up piece of paper towel and a sock.

“Because they are bumpy and porous, these should absorb. But as they experiment with reflection of light, kids could argue that a little bit bounces off of them – especially if we darken the room. Additionally, our students may already know that white tends to reflect while black absorbs,” said Mr. Frank.

“Hmm, both of these objects are white. Let’s add a piece of black fabric or a black sock to the bag.”

“Can we take this a little farther? To really make them think, let’s also add something black that’s smooth and has some luster. You know, like a black pool ball or a mini chalkboard. That way, they will find out that a variety of conditions allow light to be absorbed.”

“Great idea,” said Ms. Sneed, “because objects that totally absorb are dark and bumpy.”

The two teachers looked at each other and smiled. Oh how they loved making kids think!

Extending Reflection of Light Lab

“In this p hysical science activity ,” said Mr. Frank, “kids will also rotate through centers that explore characteristics of light , opacity , refraction , and color . If kids finish this station early, they can experiment with reflection of light with objects around the room.”

Enjoy Teaching

“Great!” Ms. Sneed responded. “I love this set of light activities . It lets kids experiment with reflection of light – and more.”

“Not only that,” her teaching partner responded. “They also work independently and become totally engaged.”

• OCR Gateway

Reflection, refraction, and sound waves - OCR Gateway Reflecting light experiment - plane mirror

At a boundary, waves are reflected, refracted, or absorbed. Waves, such as ultrasound, can be used in medicine and other industries.

Part of Physics (Single Science) Waves in matter

Save to My Bitesize

Reflecting light experiment - plane mirror

Investigation of reflection with a plane mirror, aim of the experiment.

To investigate the reflection of light by a plane mirror.

• Set up a ray box, slit and lens so that a narrow ray of light is produced.
• Place a 30 centimetre (cm) ruler near the middle of a piece of plain A3 paper. Draw a straight line parallel to its longer sides. Use a protractor to draw a second line at right angles to this line. Label this line with an ‘N’ for ‘normal’.
• Place a plane mirror close plane mirror A mirror with a flat, smooth, reflective surface. against the first line.
• Use the ray box to shine a ray of light at the point where the normal meets the mirror. This is the incident ray close incident ray Light ray moving towards a surface or boundary. .
• The angle between the normal and the incident ray is called the angle of incidence close angle of incidence Angle between the normal and the incident ray. . Move the ray box or paper to change the angle of incidence. The aim is to see a clear ray reflected from the surface of the mirror.
• the incident ray with a cross
• the reflected ray close reflected ray Light ray leaving a surface or boundary. with a cross
• Remove the mirror. Join the crosses to show the paths of the light rays.
• Measure the angle of incidence and angle of reflection for the mirror.
• Repeat steps 2 - 8 for several different angles of incidence.

Record results in a suitable table.

Compare the angle of incidence with the angle of reflection for each block.

The light rays should obey the law of reflection close law of reflection In reflection at a surface, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. for every attempt. To what extent do the results show this?

Risks/hazards

More guides on this topic.

• Properties of waves - OCR Gateway
• Properties, uses and hazards of electromagnetic waves - OCR Gateway
• Lenses and ray diagrams - OCR Gateway
• Light - OCR Gateway
• Sample exam questions - waves in matter - OCR Gateway

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