How do we see things? Is it simply us looking or is there more to it than that? What part do light rays play?

In this activity, we will be exploring how light travels and how we see light and other objects with our eyes.

Diagrams are often used to explain complex, scientific ideas, to help us picture things that we cannot really see.

Look at this diagram below, for example.

The lines show how the light rays travel in straight lines and the small arrows show the direction.

We can't really 'see' light travelling like this, but the diagram helps us to picture it. Scientists can do experiments to make the light waves clearer, but this process happens so quickly, it's very hard to actually see it!

Here, the diagram shows a light source, which is the Sun that shines on to the parrot.
 

Because the light is shining on the bird, the light energy bounces off into the man's eye and that is how we see things.

It is important that the arrows on these diagrams are drawn in the correct direction, showing light travelling from the light source - make sure to look closely!

Now, let's have a look....!