Light that consists of red, green and blue light in equal amounts so looks white.

A rainbow pattern of coloured light that always occurs with the colours in the same order.

The cells at the back of the eye that detect colour.

The visible spectrum

Science

In the Waves unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about the properties and propagation of transverse and longitudinal waves.

In the Sound, light and vision unit, pupils learnt how sound waves travel through different types of medium and are absorbed and reflected, how light is reflected off mirrors, and how the eye can see objects by the light they reflect.

Making images

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

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...

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.

Although a rainbow is actually a continuous range of colours, it is traditionally described as having seven colours. Starting with red, sort the seven colours of a rainbow into the correct order.

Each raindrop makes all of the colours of light.

Different raindrops make different colours of light.

Raindrops split white light into all of its colours.

Raindrops absorb some colours of white light but not the colours of the rainbow.

Which of the following statements describes how a rainbow is made?

a combination of equal brightness of red and green light

a combination of equal brightness of red, green and blue light

a combination of equal brightness of red, yellow and blue light

a combination of equal brightness of all of the colours of visible light

Which of the following can look like white light when it enters our eyes at the same time?

The colour cyan does not appear in a rainbow.

Light from the screen is detected by the R cone cells of the person’s eyes.

Light from the screen is detected by the G cone cells of the person’s eyes.

Light from the screen is detected by the B cone cells of the person’s eyes.

The signal to their brain is the same as when they see a cyan object.

A person looks at a television screen and sees cyan, a secondary colour of light. Which of the following statements are correct?

A person has an object that they can see through clearly. The object transmits light so it can be described as being...

The back surface of the eye that detects light is called the {{}}.

How many types of cone cell are in the eye of a person who has full colour vision?

The rod cells do not work well in dim light.

The cone cells do not work well in dim light.

The cone cells all become equally sensitive in dim light.

Which of the following explains why we see mainly in shades of grey in dim light?

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.)

The screen has tiny yellow lights, and these lights are switched on.

The screen displays two colours of light and neither of these is yellow.

The screen splits white light into a rainbow of colours and shows the yellow.

The screen on a mobile phone shows a yellow banana. Which of the following explains how it does this?

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The visible spectrum

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.