Year 8 - Science
Reflecting colour
Making images
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the transmission of light, including absorption, scattering, and reflection, and the use of the ray model in imaging, refraction, and lenses. It also covers energy transfer in various processes, using safe techniques, making accurate observations, and improving reliability.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the colour of an object in white light and in coloured light.
Key Notes
- Colour is detected in the eye by the R, G and B 'cone cells' that each detect a range of colours of light.
- The colour of an object in white or coloured light depends on the amounts of R, G and B light it is reflecting.
- White objects reflect all colours of light so look the same colour as the incident light (whether white or coloured).
- The colours of light that an object does not reflect are absorbed. Black objects absorb all colours of light.
- In red/green/blue light, an object will appear red/green/blue if it reflects that colour, and black if it does not.
Vocabulary To Learn
- reflect: to hit a surface and 'bounce' off
- incident: a word used to describe the incoming light that hits a surface
- scatter: to reflect light in many directions at once
- cone cell: the cells at the back of the eye that detect colour
- absorb: a material that absorbs light / gains energy from light travelling through it, decreasing the amount of light
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Colour is the sum of the colour of the object and the colour of light falling on it.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Colour is detected in the eye by the R, G and B 'cone cells' that each detect a range of colours of light. The colour of an object in white or coloured light depends on the amounts of R, G and B light it is reflecting.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'reflect'
to hit a surface and 'bounce' off. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Colour is the sum of the colour of the object and the colour of light falling on it. Correction: Use coloured lights to show that red coloured objects reflect red light, but not blue or green.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 8 Science guide library.