Science: Make a Rainbow: Light and Prisms Worksheet

Question 1

White light from the Sun can be split into many colors. Name three colors you might see in a rainbow.

Accepted Answer

Three colors you might see in a rainbow are red, yellow, and blue. Other rainbow colors include orange, green, indigo, and violet.

Question 2

A prism is a clear object that can bend light. What can happen when white light passes through a prism?

Accepted Answer

When white light passes through a prism, the light can bend and spread out into different colors. This can make a small rainbow.

Question 3

Circle the best choice: Light travels in straight lines until it hits something, or light travels in curly loops all the time. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

Light travels in straight lines until it hits something. It can change direction when it reflects off a surface or bends as it passes through some materials.

Question 4

A student shines a flashlight through a prism onto white paper. Why is white paper a good place to look for the rainbow colors?

Accepted Answer

White paper is a good place to look because it reflects the rainbow colors so our eyes can see them clearly. Dark paper might make the colors harder to see.

Question 5

Put these rainbow colors in order from first to last: yellow, red, violet, green, orange, blue. Start with red.

Accepted Answer

The colors in order are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. These are common colors seen in a rainbow.

Question 6

Rainbows can appear when sunlight shines through tiny water drops in the air. How are the water drops like tiny prisms?

Accepted Answer

The water drops are like tiny prisms because they can bend sunlight and split it into different colors. This helps make a rainbow in the sky.

Question 7

A mirror reflects light, but a prism bends and separates light. What does reflect mean?

Accepted Answer

Reflect means to bounce off. When light reflects from a mirror, it bounces off the shiny surface and travels in a new direction.

Question 8

Which setup is more likely to make rainbow colors: shining a flashlight through a clear prism or shining a flashlight at a red backpack? Explain why.

Accepted Answer

Shining a flashlight through a clear prism is more likely to make rainbow colors. A prism can bend and separate white light, but a red backpack does not split light into many colors.

Question 9

Draw or describe what you would see if white light went into one side of a prism and came out the other side.

Accepted Answer

You would see white light enter the prism and different colors come out the other side. The colors would spread apart like a small rainbow.

Question 10

Why is it important not to look directly at the Sun when trying to see or make rainbow colors?

Accepted Answer

It is important not to look directly at the Sun because bright sunlight can hurt your eyes. A safe activity uses reflected light, a flashlight, or adult help.

Science: Make a Rainbow: Light and Prisms

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