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Traveling Light

 

Goal:

Goal:

learning robot character

How does light travel?

Light travels in straight lines called rays. Look at the picture. Can you see the rays of sun through the trees? How many rays can you count?

A grassy field on the edge of a forest with trees.
A grassy field on the edge of a forest with trees. A burst of several sun rays shining through the treetops at sunrise.

The sun is our most important light and heat source. Light does not need a substance to travel through. That means that the light energy that comes from the sun can get to us. Nothing can travel faster than light.

Here is a fun fact. It takes about 8 minutes for light to travel from the sun to Earth. We are lucky that light can travel through the nothing of space. It travels to us in the form of a wave because it is a type of energy.

Light can change when it shines on different materials. Click on each picture below to learn three new words about how light travels.

glass window showing plants outside
glass window showing plants outside

Transparent means all the light can pass through the material. Objects that are clear, like the glass from this window, are transparent. You can see outside clearly.

sheer curtain allows light through but is difficult to see objects outside
sheer curtain allows light through but is difficult to see objects outside

Translucent means some light can pass through the material. This curtain over the window lets some light in, and you can still see some of what is outside.

curtains completely blocking light or objects
curtains completely blocking light or objects

Opaque means none of the light can pass through. Look at the curtains on this window. You cannot see any of the outside, and no light is coming through.

Question

Can anything travel faster than light?

No, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.