Light & Sound

Level: Available for Foundation through to Year 3.

Duration: Available in a 60 or 90 minute format. We recommend a 90 minute format if budget and timetabling constraints allow.

Numbers: Each workshop can cater to a maximum of 30 children. However, smaller groups have better access to equipment and the facilitator.

State: VIC, NSW & QLD

We need a source of light to be able to see. Our eyes detect light and our ears detect sound (that is, they do not produce it).

Sound energy can travel through any material. Some materials are better than others at transferring sound energy.

Not all materials allow light to travel through them. Materials that allow all light through are transparent, materials that allow some light through are translucent, and materials that do not let any light through are opaque.

Light can travel through the vacuum of space, but sound cannot.

Both sound and light travel in waves, but the waves are different.

The light we see (visible light) is called white light and is made up of a spectrum of colours that we call the rainbow. Prisms and raindrops split white light up into its colours.

Lenses bend light. This is known as refraction. Lenses are used to form images on a screen and can help us see things that are far away.

Light energy and sound energy can be transformed into other forms of energy, such as electrical energy.

Students experience the disorientation of being deprived of sight.

Small group investigation into materials which allow sound to pass through them, and which ones allow light to pass through them.

Engaging demonstration of the differences between light waves and sound waves, as well as the concept of reflection and echoes.

Each student observes the diffraction of white light into the spectrum of colours through special diffraction gratings.

Demonstration of how lenses can be used to form an image just like the eye and a camera lens.

Explore a range of optical instruments that use lenses and mirrors to change the path of light.

Students experiment with transferring and transforming vibrations (sound energy).

Students create and use a natural amplifier in small groups.

Demonstration of how light energy can be transformed into other types of energy, such as electrical energy.

Students participate in a class demonstration of an electrical circuit.

Light and sound are produced by a range of sources and can be sensed (VCSSU049)

Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted (VCSSU080)

Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity; electric circuits enable this energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy (VCSSU081)

Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)

Describes common forms of energy and explores some characteristics of sound energy (ST1-8PW-S)

Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations (ST2-1WS-S)

Light and sound are produced by a range of sources and can be sensed (ACSSU020)

Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted (ACSSU080)

Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources (ACSSU097)

Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (ACSIS025)