Why You Cannot See in the Dark
- Physics
- Ages 6–8 · Grades 1–2
- Hands-on experiment
What you’ll find out
- We can only see things when there is light.
- Some things make their own light; most things do not.
- We see most things because light bounces off them into our eyes.
No sign-up and no real names. In the lesson you check your understanding as you read, run the experiment yourself, and practise until it sticks.
No light, no seeing
Go into a room with no windows and turn off the light. Can you see your hand? No. Without light you cannot see anything at all, because your eyes need light to work. Turn the light back on and everything comes back. We only see things when there is light.
Light bounces into your eyes
The sun, a lamp and a fire make their own light. Most things, like a toy or a book, do not. We see them because light from a lamp or the sun hits them and bounces off into our eyes. The moon does not make light either. It shines because sunlight bounces off it.
Curriculum links: NGSS 1-PS4-2