The Earth / Moon / Sun System

NC Standard:  3.01

Activity: Reflect and Absorb  

Question: Does surface color make a difference in how light is absorbed?

Vocabulary: reflection, absorbtion

Background: Light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object and is reflected and / or absorbed. Darker colors absorb light while lighter colors reflect more light.

Materials: piece of black art paper, piece of white art paper, two thermometers

Procedure: 

• 1. Put both the black and white art paper outside in direct sunlight.

• 2. record the temperature using a thermometer.

• 3. Place one thermometer in the center of the black paper and one in the center of the white paper.

• 4. Record the temperature of each thermometer every hour for the next three hours and record the results in the chart below.

Conclusion: Light travels in a straight line until it is reflected or absorbed. When light is absorbed it will produce heat which can be measured using a thermometer.
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Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
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