|| home ||| units ||||| help

Trial 2 - Finding Things by Light

1. What if your eyes saw just brightness, not shapes? Let's find out. Connect the light sensor to the computer. Refer to Technical Hints to connect the light sensor. Refer to Technical Hints to record a series of measurements.

2. Walk around the classroom and point the light sensor in different directions.

   

   Find the direction that shows the highest reading. Where is the brightest light coming from?

   
   
   
3. Find the direction that shows the lowest reading. Why is there less light in that direction?
   
   
   

4. Not all animals have eyes like ours. Some types of eyes see only light and motion, not shapes or color. To explore how this feels, try walking around the classroom with a tissue over your eyes. Try one or two layers. You should be able to see some light, but not shapes.

   

5. How well can you walk around the classroom with a tissue over your eyes? Can you avoid running into things? Can you find your friend in a group of kids? Can you locate the windows? Can you seeing someone moving? Describe what the world looks like through a tissue.
   
   
6. If you wanted to measure light brightness, which would be more reliable - your eyes, or a light sensor? Explain.