Emitting+Reflecting+Light+and+Colors

Emitting and Reflecting Light Including Colors

Part 1: A. Emit means to give off or produce. (For example giving off light) B. Reflect means to give back or bounce. (For example reflecting light) C. Absorb means to soak up or not give back. (For example no colors are reflected by black)


 * Where || Emits Light || Reflects Light ||
 * Deep Space || 1. || 2. ||
 * Solar System || 3. || 4. ||
 * Atmosphere || 5. || 6. ||
 * In a Room || 7. || 8. ||

Copy the table and record the answers in this graphic organizer.

1. What objects beyond the solar system emit light?

2. What objects beyond the solar system reflect light?

3. What objects in the solar system emit light?

4. What objects in the solar system reflect light?

5. What objects in near earth orbit and atmosphere emit light?

6. What objects in near earth orbit or the atmosphere reflect light?

7. What objects in the room emit light?

8. What objects in the room reflect light?

(Extension: What in the atmosphere refracts light?)

(Challenge: What in deep space refracts light?) Achromatic

Summary: Visible light is a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Some objects are visible because they give off or emit light. Other objects are visible because light bounces of them. In other words, these objects reflect light. Things can be seen because they either emit or reflect light.

Part 2: D. White light consist of red, green, and blue light. E. In white light, white objects reflect equal amounts of all three colors. F. Colored objects reflect the color of light they appear and absorb different amounts of the three colors. G. Object that appear black in white light absorb all three colors.

Copy the table and record the answers in this graphic organizer.
 * Object || Color of Light ||  || Color Reflected || Color Absorbed ||
 * Apple || White || 1A ||  ||   ||
 * Leaf || White || 1B ||  ||   ||
 * Apple || Red || 2A ||  ||   ||
 * Leaf || Red || 2B ||  ||   ||
 * Apple || Green || 3A ||  ||   ||
 * Leaf || Green || 3B ||  ||   ||
 * Apple || Blue || 4A ||  ||   ||
 * Leaf || Blue || 4B ||  ||   ||

Look at figure 7 on textbook page 48. White light is shown as a rainbow because it is a mixure of all the colors.

Fact: The color an object appears is the color it reflects.

1a. When white light shines on an apple: What color does the apple reflect? What colors are absorbed by the apple?

1b. When white light shines on a leaf: What color does the leaf reflect? What colors are absorbed by the leaf?

2a. When red light shines on an apple: What color does the apple reflect? What colors are absorbed by the apple?

2b. When red light shines on a leaf: What color does the leaf reflect? What colors are absorbed by the leaf?

3a. When green light shines on an apple: What color does the apple reflect? What colors are absorbed by the apple?

3b. When green light shines on a leaf: What color does the leaf reflect? What colors are absorbed by the leaf?

4a. When blue light shines on an apple: What color does the apple reflect? What colors are absorbed by the apple?

4b. When blue light shines on a leaf: What color does the leaf reflect? What colors are absorbed by the leaf?