- Year 8
The visible spectrum
I can describe what white light is, and explain why a visible spectrum can be produced from white light.
- Year 8
The visible spectrum
I can describe what white light is, and explain why a visible spectrum can be produced from white light.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- White light from the Sun and light bulbs consists of light of all the colours in the visible light spectrum (a rainbow).
- A transparent triangular prism can split up sunlight into a visible light spectrum.
- The visible light spectrum shows the range of colours that light can have.
- Cone cells in the eye detect colour. There are 3 kinds (R, G and B); each is sensitive to a range of colours of light.
- The colour we see depends on which cone cells are triggered to send a signal to the brain.
Keywords
White light - Light that consists of red, green and blue light in equal amounts so looks white.
Triangular prism - A uniform 3D shape with triangular ends.
Visible light spectrum - A rainbow pattern of coloured light that always occurs with the colours in the same order.
Cone cells - The cells at the back of the eye that detect colour.
Common misconception
Sunlight is yellow(ish), not white.
Show pupils a yellow light (and illuminate white paper beneath a yellow light) and compare it to sunlight to show that sunlight is white.
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: The visible spectrum, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: The visible spectrum, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Making images unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Ray lamps, slits, transparent triangular prisms, red filters (to fit in the ray lamps).
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A person has an object that they can see through clearly. The object transmits light so it can be described as being...
Q2.The back surface of the eye that detects light is called the .
Q3.How many types of cone cell are in the eye of a person who has full colour vision?
Q4.Which of the following explains why we see mainly in shades of grey in dim light?
Q5.Match each set of colours of light with the colour that is seen when they enter a person's eyes. (All of the colours in each set have equal brightness.)
cyan
magenta
yellow
white
black
Q6.The screen on a mobile phone shows a yellow banana. Which of the following explains how it does this?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A rainbow shows the colours that white light can be separated into. They are always in the same order. This is called the visible light...
Q2.The diagram shows a 3D shape called a __________. When this shape is made out of glass or clear plastic, it can split white light into its component colours.
