Summary Shine red, blue and green lights on a white wall. Turn the lights on and off in different combinations to create different coloured shadows and overlapping shapes. Science content Physics: Light and Sound (1) Lessons activity is in Colours in light Resource Exploratorium snack: coloured shadows Materials Three light bulbs in holders - red, blue and green. Can also use flashlights covered with coloured acetate White wall Procedure Turn the lights on and of in different combinations while holding a hand up to create shadows. Experiment to find out what is going on. With one bulb we get the light coming from it showing on the white wall. If our hand is in the way, we block the light and there is a dark shadow. With two colours we make a new colour (additive colours of light). Our hand blocks one, leaving the other colour showing in its shadow. cyan is blue and green magenta is blue and red yellow is red and green (red and green receptors in our eye are stimulated by yellow) With three colours, we make almost white. Our hand blocks one, leaving the mixture of the other two colours in its shadow. We get dark where all three shadows overlap. Grades taught Gr K Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 4 Gr 5
