Spinning Rainbow Light Splitter Challenge
⚠️ Safety Warning
Be careful not to spill water. Use a flashlight, not a laser pointer.
All experiments require adult supervision.
Materials You'll Need
Gather these 5 items before starting
💡 Tip: Check off items as you gather them to stay organized!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these 7 steps carefully
For this spinning version, fill a glass with water and place it at the edge of a table.
Place the white paper on the floor next to the table.
Darken the room as much as possible.
Shine the flashlight through the glass of water at an angle.
Adjust the angle until you see a rainbow appear on the white paper.
Try placing the mirror in the water and angling the flashlight at it.
Observe all the colors of the rainbow — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
✅ Remember: Take your time with each step and ask an adult for help if needed!
The Science Behind It 🔬
White light from the flashlight is actually made up of all the colors of the rainbow mixed together. When light passes through water, it slows down and bends — this is called refraction. Different colors of light bend at slightly different angles because they have different wavelengths. Red light bends the least and violet bends the most. This separates the white light into its component colors, creating a rainbow! This is exactly how raindrops in the sky create real rainbows after a storm. This variation explores the concept further by introducing new variables and measurements.