Prisms, Rainbows, Light Scattering

We liked creating a prism with a mirror, light, and water (something similar is described here) and projecting the spectrum on the wall. So pretty!

Apparatus: water in pan, angled mirror, flashlight

We mixed three colored lights to make white light (additive)

Color mixing (subtractive)

"Daylight"

"Sunset light"

We learned about Tyndall Scattering in the atmosphere—that's the effect that makes the sky appear blue when the light is coming from overhead, and reddish when the light is coming at a sideways angle. A similar demonstration is described here.

Another brilliant spectrum on the wall, from a glass prism this time. It's so fun to play with prisms—I remember doing it for hours at a time when I was little.