Light Action! Amazing Experiments for Children

Josh Cobb

Light is still an enigma, although some of the best minds have tried to figure out exactly what it is. Thousands of years ago, the Greek engineer, Hero, thought that light was sent out of our eyes as a "feeler." Since then, we have tried to quantify it, measure it, and theorize about it. Although we still do not know exactly what it is, we do know what we can do with it. When great scientists are stumped they may resort to their playful imaginations. Playing allows their minds to become free and, although playing generates ideas that may appear foolish and absurd, occasionally, a "foolish" idea breaks a discovery wide open. It is not difficult to teach kids how to play with science, and optics is a great place to begin.

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