White Light & Colour
Explain that white light is a mixture of all visible colours (ROYGBIV), describe dispersion through a prism, explain why objects appear coloured (selective reflection and absorption of wavelengths), and describe colour mixing with filters
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If your child shone white light through a prism, could they explain why a rainbow of colours appears — and then predict what colour a blue jumper would look under red light and why?
Explain that white light is a mixture of all visible colours (ROYGBIV), describe dispersion through a prism, explain why objects appear coloured (selective reflection and absorption of wavelengths), and describe colour mixing with filters
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Check understanding
- Lists the colours of the visible spectrum in order of increasing frequency
- Explains why a prism disperses white light into a spectrum
- Explains why a red object looks red under white light but black under blue light
- Predicts the colour of an object seen through a colour filter
“If your child shone white light through a prism, could they explain why a rainbow of colours appears — and then predict what colour a blue jumper would look under red light and why?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Waves, Light & Sound
- Age range
- Ages 11–12
Standards