1. How Light Travels & Interacts with objects
4.P4A.4 Develop and use model to describe how light travels and interacts when it strikes an object (including reflection, refraction, and absorption) using evidence from observations.

2. Let’s refresh our memories!

3. How does light travel? Light travels in a straight line
Light travels AWAY from the light source (example: light travels away from the Sun and towards Earth)
Light can travel THROUGH transparent material and empty space.
The way that light reacts when it strikes an object varies with the object!

4. Reflection When light is reflected, it bounces back from a surface.
Reflection allows objects to be seen that do not produce their own light
When light strikes a smooth, shiny object, it is reflected so that an image can be seen. For example, a mirror or a pool of water will reflect (or bounce back) an image very similar to the object

5. Refraction
When light is refracted it passes from one type of transparent material to another, and changes direction
For example, when light travels through a magnifying glass, it changes direction, and we see a larger, magnified view of the object.
When a straw is viewed in water, light passes from the water to the air causing the path of the light to bend. When the light bends, the straw appears distorted (bent or broken)

6. Absorption
When light is absorbed it does not pass through or reflect from a material. It remains in the material as another form of energy.

7. Seeing Color
The light that is reflected by an object determines the color(s) of that object. Color is NOT caused by the absorption of light by an object.
For example, a red object reflects red colors of light and absorbs all other colors
The color black is seen when all of thee colors of light are absorbed.
The color white is seen when all of the colors of light are reflected.