Explanation of a Scientific Idea Light derive from electromagnetic radiation and our eyes are able to see only

visible light (Light and Colour, 2001). For example, the sources of lights are sun, candlelight, and others. The sun is one of the sources which produce full spectrum of visible light. This light is known as white light and it can be divided into seven colours or known as rainbow colours (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate, 2010). By using spectrum, we can see how white light split into seven colours (refer diagram 1). The colours are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

Diagram 1 Adapted from Educational resource pages for parents and their students. http://www.valdosta.edu/~mgvaldez/resource.html Light travel in a straight line. The speed of light is 300,000 kilometres per second. Light do not need any medium to travel which means it is able to travel in a vacuum (Light and Colour, 2001). By using lens, light can be refracts. Diagram 2 shows how light are refracted by converging lens and diverging lens.

Diagram 2 Adapted from Lenses http://www.math.ubc.ca/~cass/courses/m309-01a/chu/MirrorsLenses/lenses.htm

In order to see something, we need four main aspects which are source of light, eye and retina, a connection from the eye and retina to brain and brain to process the information. Light help us to see by providing a reflection from a source or object into our eyes (Light, 2009). In diagram 3, it shows how light move and reflect on a surface to be seen through our eye.

Diagram 3 Adapted from Integrated publishing http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14182/css/14182_25.htm Shadow will be form on an area which the light is not able to pass through an opaque object (Shadows, 2001). The size of shadow will be differing based on the length between the light source, opaque object and the surface. Diagram 4 shows how the shadow is formed. Besides opaque object, there are also transparent object and translucent object. The opaque object will create shadow when the light is not able to pass it. Meanwhile, transparent object let the light to pass through it such as water. The translucent object let less light to pass through it and create a fuzzy shadow which means the shadow cannot be seen clearly. The examples of translucent object are plastic bags and waxes.

Diagram 4 Adapted from Earth, sun and moon. http://www.mundesleyjuniorschool.com/InternetResources/Science/Y5/earthsunmoon/shado ws.shtml

The accuracy or the appearance of shadow varies based on type of light source, and type of object. Besides that, the surface where the shadow appears also influences the accuracy of the shadow. The medium where the light travel also might affects the shadows. For example, if the light source travels through smoke or cloud before it reaches the opaque object, it will affect the shadow appearances compared to travel in clear air. Diagram 5 shows how shadows are form on a translucent surface which make it become quite fuzzy.

Diagram 5 Adapted from BBC sport http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/swimming/6478919.stm The shadow form on a solid or opaque surface will be more accurate compared to translucent surface. However, the light source also will affect the shadow whether it will become darker or lighter. For example, a small and accurate light source will create a dark shadow with sharply define edges (Shadows, 2001). The large source of light will create a dark shadow on the centre and fuzzy images on the outside of the shadow. Besides that, the angle which the light source attach the object also will affect the size and shape of the shadow. For example, if a boy stands under the sun in the morning, his shadow will be longer than his actual height. In contrast, if the boy stands under the sun in the afternoon, the shadow will be shorter than his actual height. Diagram 6 shows the relationship between the angle of light source and shadows.

shadow Morning Diagram 6 Afternoon

References BBC sport. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/swimming/6478919.stm Educational resource pages for parents and their students. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.valdosta.edu/~mgvaldez/resource.html Integrated publishing (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14182/css/14182_25.htm Lenses. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.math.ubc.ca/~cass/courses/m30901a/chu/MirrorsLenses/lenses.htm Light. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.explainthatstuff.com/light.html Light and Colour. (2001). Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media Limited. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate. (2010). Visible Light. Retrieved from http://missionscience.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight.html Shadows. (2001). Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media Limited.