Students are agreeing that light transmits through materials...but is there a way to really know this?

We're using the light meter to collect more substantial data, and using mathematical models to support our thinking.  We've uncovered some interesting findings, too, which explain that all the light that hits materials can't be explained with just reflection and transmission. 

So what else does light do?

While our model for a blocked path with a transparent object makes sense, it's important to gather evidence for this phenomena!

Using transparent, semi-transparent (which we really should call translucent) and things that completely block the light, students are gathering the data to support their models.  Super cool connecting math to science!

We've realized that in building consensus, we've got many ideas to share and evaluate.  Sixth graders are spending time figuring out the best way to represent when a path is blocked with both a transparent and non-transparent object.  Here are some sample student models that show our progression towards establishing consensus!

So we've figured out how to represent light enabling us to see an object, a shadow, and a reflection/non-reflection.  But if we go back to our model as seen in #1 above, is it possible to block the path and still be able to see the object?

Using our light boxes again, students blocked the path with some clear and something not.  They're working on developing models to explain their thinking of how they can possibly see an object even though the path between the object and the eye is obstructed.

Here's our first take on it!

It's always great when students say things that relate to class...

So we figured out that we can relate our Light Model for Why We See Things to everyday phenomena relating to the Earth, Sun, and Moon.  Check out the models that students developed to explain these phenomena that shape our world!

Sixth graders came to an agreement about how light interacts with different materials.  Materials that are smooth allow light to interact with it in a v-shaped, predictable pattern, and this is how we're able to see our reflections.  We saw real-world examples of this in wet pavement and in polished shoes.  Materials that may appear smooth but don't give off a reflection are actually bumpy.  These types of surfaces, and those that are obviously bumpy to our sense of touch, allow light to scatter from their surfaces.  The unpredictable nature of light bouncing in every which way allows us to see the actual object, but not a reflection.

​We're using this newly revised light model to explain some natural phenomena!  Check back soon!

As students figure out why light reflects off of some surfaces and scatters off of others, we're working on the practice of modeling to showcase our thinking.  Before we establish consensus with how light's interactions look, students developed their own models.  Here is some students' initial thoughts!

So our laser pointer and mirror experiment gave us a really good understanding of how light interacts with a mirror, but we've also agreed as scientists that it's good to gather as much evidence to support a claim as possible.  So even though we figured out that the angle the light comes in on a mirror pretty much leaves the mirror at the same angle in the opposite direction, we wanted to use our light meters to gather some quantitative data to support this idea.

Our data support this idea about the matching angles.   Notice how the group's data above has the highest light sensor reading at matching angles. But does it happen with every material that reflects light?  Check back soon to find out!

How would our model change if the object that reflects light is super shiny and reflective like a mirror?  Would it be any different from an object that reflects light too, but one in which we don't see our reflection in?

Good thing Mrs. Brinza had some mirrors laying around, so we're putting them to good use!  We played "catch" with the light to figure out what happened when light hit the mirrors.

And then we figured out that there had to be a way to mathematically represent what we were seeing.  We pulled out some protractors and began to uncover some patterns...

We saw the following patterns emerge:
1.  A v-shaped pattern.
2.  The angle the light was hitting the mirror was the SAME angle measurement on the opposite side.

What does this mean if we don't use a laser pointer and instead a light source that emits light in many directions?  What would happen if we used something that is still reflective, but maybe not as reflective as a mirror?