Disappearing Penny
What is light? Is it a particle? Is it a wave? Is it a combination of both? Or is it something else altogether? Scientists who study light admit that they don't know everything there is to know about light. But whatever light is, we're very lucky that it exists: light is what enables the human eye to see.
Scientists do know how light reacts under certain conditions. Three reactions of light are demonstrated in the following science experiments.
Light Reflection Make a Disappearing Penny Reappear
Experiment:
Observation:
After a sufficient amount of water is added to the bowl, your friend says he can see the penny.
Explanation:
As water fills the bowl, the reflection of the penny bends around the bowl to the surface of the water, making your friend think that he can see the penny again
What is light? Is it a particle? Is it a wave? Is it a combination of both? Or is it something else altogether? Scientists who study light admit that they don't know everything there is to know about light. But whatever light is, we're very lucky that it exists: light is what enables the human eye to see.
Scientists do know how light reacts under certain conditions. Three reactions of light are demonstrated in the following science experiments.
Light Reflection Make a Disappearing Penny Reappear
Experiment:
- Place a penny in the center of a small opaque (you can't see through it) shallow bowl.
- Set the bowl on a table or counter top in a well-lit room.
- Ask a friend to keep an eye on the penny as he slowly backs away from the bowl.
- Tell your friend to stop as soon as the edge of the bowl just blocks his view of the penny.
- Now tell him you will magically make the penny reappear.
- Slowly fill the bowl with water without disturbing the penny.
- Does your friend see the penny come back into view?
Observation:
After a sufficient amount of water is added to the bowl, your friend says he can see the penny.
Explanation:
As water fills the bowl, the reflection of the penny bends around the bowl to the surface of the water, making your friend think that he can see the penny again