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Trial 1 - Messing Around

1. The light sensor measures light. But does it "see" what your eyes see? Your job is to figure out what a light sensor sees, compared to your eyes. Connect the light sensor to the computer. Refer to Technical Hints to connect the light sensor. Point the light sensor in different directions and watch the measurement reading. Refer to Technical Hints to record a series of measurements.
   
   
2. Can you tell where the sensor's "eye" is? Draw a picture of the light sensor. Refer to Technical Hints to create a drawing. Label the "eye" of the sensor and the direction it's looking. How did you decide where the eye was?
   
   
   
3. Does the light sensor see color? Pick three different colors of paper and lay them out on a table. Put them in order according to how bright you think they are. Then fill in the table.

   Order	Color
   Looks the lightest
   In between
   Looks the darkest

   
   
4. Tape a pencil to the light sensor to keep it a fixed distance from the paper -- about 10 cm (4 in). Pass the light sensor over each color one at a time. Keep the sensor pointing straight down, at the same distance for each color. Don't let the shadow of your hand fall on the paper where the sensor is pointing!

   

   Notice the sensor reading for each color. Put the colors in order, according to the light sensor measurement. Fill in the table. Refer to Technical Hints to record a series of measurements.

   

   Order	Color
   Measures most light
   In between
   Measures least light

   
   
5. Using your eye, did you put the colors in the same order as when you used the light sensor?

   a. yes, same order

   b. no, different order

   
   
6. Based on your light measurements, do you think the sensor can see color? Why or why not? Give examples.