24
1
LABORATORY
Created By
Hillary Nixon
Kim Miller
Dianne Young
NOTEBOOK
Name:________________________
Date:_________________________
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
2
23
KEY VOCABULARY
ENERGY: the ability to do work
LIGHT: the form of energy that makes
it possible for the eye to see
HEAT: a form of energy that you feel as
warmth
REFLECTION TIME
What did you like?
T HERMAL ENERGY: energy in the form
of heat
MEDIUM: a substance that is a means of
passing on a force or an effect
REFRACT: the bending of light; when light
has been bent
What did you learn?
ABSORB: to take in
ELECTRICIT Y: a kind of energy that is
used for heat and light; makes things
happen
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT: an unbroken path
along which an electric current exists or
is intended or able to flow
REFLECT: to throw back an image of;
mirror
MAGNETIC ENERGY: having the power
to attract or repulse; force of attraction
or repulsion
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
What would you change?
22
Extensions:
-Measure the angle in which the light is
refracted from an object.
Object:
Angle:
-Find several other objects which you can
test the
properties of light and list those below in
your own table.
-How is this information useful in your
everyday life?
3
Part 1: Pinhole Viewer
(modified from www.cgtp.duke.edu)
Introduction:
Light is something that we encounter in everyday life,
allowing us to see images, colors, and shapes. This lesson
will focus on the concept that light travels in a straight
line.
Materials:
-Styrofoam cup w/bottom
-Styrofoam cup w/o bottom
-Pinhole Viewer Lab Sheet
-Black construction paper circle cutout
-Black construction paper crescent cutout
-4” x 4” wax paper cutout
-Sharpened pencil
-Scotch tape
-Flashlight
Research Question:
What is the path that light travels?
Hy pothesis:
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
4
21
Your Data:
Object
Reflects
Refracts
Absorbs
Experimental Design:
Independent variable (thing that you change):
Dependent variable (thing that you measure):
Which variable will you need to keep constant?
Procedure:
1. Make a loop of tape so the sticky side is on the outside. Stick
this to the round piece of construction paper.
2. Put the taped circle in the cup that has a bottom and use a
pencil to press it into the bottom of the cup until the tape
sticks.
3. Take the crescent (arc-shaped) piece of construction paper.
Note the notched cuts on one side. Fold that side in a bit up
to the notches.
4. Roll the arc-shaped piece of construction paper up with the
notched side folded to the inside, and place it inside the cup.
Release the paper to let in unroll a bit, and then tape it to the
cup.
5. Use a pen to make a hole in the bottom of the cup from the
inside, through the construction paper. Ask for help if you
need it.
6. Tape the wax paper over the cut bottom of the other cup.
Try to keep the wax paper as smooth as you can.
7. Put the cup with the wax paper into the cup with the black
construction paper.
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
Data Analysis:
1. What does the data tell us?
2. Did the data support your hypothesis?
3. List other materials that would:
reflect:
refract:
absorb:
20
5
Experimental Design:
Independent Variable Dependent Variable Which variables will you need to keep
constant?
Protocol/Procedure:
What is your control group?
Write your protocol below:
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
8. Look through the top of the inner cup at a brightly lit
object – we will show you where to look. Ignore the
bright light coming through the hole and concentrate on
the colors and patterns you see on the wax paper
“screen.” Draw or describe what you see. Can you
recognize what you are looking at? Is it upside down or
18
7
Part 2: Reflectivity of Light
Procedure:
1. Do the following to get the light probe ready to collect data.
a. Make sure the light probe is connected to the LabQuest.
(modified from Elementary Science with Vernier, Activity 35)
2. Go outside, take a reading of the sunlight for your control.
Light is reflected from surfaces based on their texture and color.
The amount of light reflected is called the reflectivity of the
surface.
3. T hen test each fabric (3 times each, so you will have 3 trials per
fabric) by placing the fabric over the tip of the light probe and
collecting a reading.
Your Data:
Fabric
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
control
Introduction:
Materials:
Vernier LabQuest
T I Light Probe
piece of white paper
piece of black paper
2 more pieces of paper of different colors
pencil or pen
tape
ruler
Research Question:
Data Analysis:
1. What does the data tell you? __________________________
_________________________________________________
2. Did the data support your hypothesis? ___________________
________________________________________________
3. On a separate paper, write a formal letter to the ACME shirt
company reporting your research and advising them on which material
will make a shirt that blocks the most light.
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
How reflective are different colors of paper?
Hypothesis:
_______ paper will reflect the most light.
_______ paper will reflect the least amount of light.
8
17
Experimental Design:
Independent variable (thing that you change):
Dependent variable (thing that you measure):
Part 4: Sunshine on My Shoulders
(modified from Elementary Science with Vernier, Activity 34, created by Dr. Lowery)
Introduction:
You have been asked by ACME shirt company to design a t-shirt that
will block the most light for the company’s new “Sunblocker” line of
shirts. T hey have given you several fabrics to test. Use a light probe to
measure how much light is blocked by layers of different materials.
Which variable will you need to keep constant?
Procedure:
1. Do the following to get the Light Probe ready to collect data.
a. Make sure the Light Probe is connected to the LabQuest.
b. Tape the Light Probe to the pencil so that the tip of the light
probe is 5 cm from the eraser end of the pencil. When you hold
the pencil up and down, the tip of the Light Probe will be 5 cm
from the surface of the table.
2. Follow these steps to collect data.
a. Put the black paper on the table.
b. Pick up the Light Probe and put the tip of the pencil in the
center of the piece of paper.
c. Make sure there are no shadows under the tip of the probe.
If there are, move your hand around so that the shadow
doesn’t fall over the probe(look for the highest reading you
can get)
d. When the light level readings are constant (stay the same),
record them on the chart.
3. Repeat step 2 for the other 3 colors of paper.
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
Materials:
LabQuest
TI Light Probe
Several fabric swatche
s
Research Question:
Which material is best at keeping light from reaching your skin?
Hypothesis:
______________ will block the most light and _____________
will block the least light because _________________________
_______________________________________________
Experimental Design:
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
16
9
Modeling a Beam of Light:
1.Hold the flashlight onto the side of the cup again, then
hold the 5 straws next to the cup so that the straws point
in the same direction as the path of light through the
solution in the cup.
2.Observe and discuss what you see. Describe it in one
sentence.
3.Hold the flashlight onto the side of the cup, this time at
an angle, while holding the 5 straws next to the cup so
that the straws point in the same direction as the path of
light through the solution in the cup.
4.Observe and discuss what you see. Describe it in one
sentence.
Conclusion:
What does this experiment tell you about the path of light?
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
Data Table
Paper
Color
Black
Light
Level
_____lux
White
_______
_______
____lux
_____lux
_____lux
Make a graph of your data.
10
Analyze your data.
15
Draw or describe how the light looked as it shone
through the side of the cup.
1. Which color has the highest reflectivity?
______________________________________________
2. Which color has the lowest reflectivity?
______________________________________________
Your Turn!
Create your own experiment using materials provided by the teacher.
Materials:
Research Question:
Hypothesis:
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
Describe or draw what happened to the light when
you tilted the flashlight at a different angle?
14
Experimental Design:
Independent Variable Dependent Variable -
11
Experimental Design:
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
Which variables will you need to keep constant?
Procedure:
Protocol/Procedure:
1.With the classroom lights off and blinds closed, carefully
hold the cup of cloudy water at eye level and look in
through the side of the cup. The partner shines the
flashlight through the side of the cup horizontally,
holding it perpendicular to the cup.
2.On the next page, draw or describe how the light looked
as it shone through the side of the cup.
3.Trade jobs and repeat steps 1 and 2.
4.Take turns tilting the flashlight so that it shines at a
different angle into the cup and observe the light.
5.On the next page, draw or describe how the light looked
as it shone through the side of the cup at an angle.
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
Data Collection:
Data Collection
Object/
Material
Light
Level
____
lux
____
lux
____
lux
____
lux
____
lux
____
lux
12
13
Make a graph of your data
Part 3:
The Path of Light
(modified from www.sciencecompanion.com)
Introduction:
You have discovered how light travels in a
previous experiment. Now you will use various
materials and liquids to see if that information changes
depending on the variables used.
Notes:
Does light from different sources always look the
same?
Analyze your data.
1. Which object/material has the highest reflectivity?
______________________________________________
How does the light from different sources look
different?
Research Question:
What direction will light travel from its source?
2. Which object/material has the lowest reflectivity?
______________________________________________
Hypothesis:
Light will travel ____________when shone
through the side of a cup (horizontally).
Light will travel ____________when shone
at a different angle through the cup.
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
6
19
9. What happens to the picture when you move the screen
(wax paper) farther back from the hole by pulling the cup
out?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Part 5: Discover How Light Moves
(modified from www.msnucleus.org)
Introduction:
You have studied and experimented
with the 3 properties of light. In this
science inquiry, you will play with light and
different objects to discover if the object
reflects, refracts, or absorbs light.
Notes:
What is reflection?
What is refraction?
What is absorption?
Research Question:
Which object is best at showing reflection?
refraction? absorption?
Hypothesis:
__________ will reflect light the best.
__________ will refract light the best.
__________ will absorb the most light.
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET
NixonHillary
Monday, April 29, 2013 2:16:07 PM ET