The Mystery of Light: Origins & Discovery
The Mystery of Light: Origins & Discovery
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The Mystery of Light: Origins & Discovery
What do you already know about the origins of light?
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson you will understand how light was made, who discovered light, and the key figures behind this discovery.
How Was Light Made?
Light originated with the Big Bang, the event that created the universe around 13.8 billion years ago. The first light appeared as the universe cooled and atoms formed.
What is Light?
Light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. It is made of particles called photons and behaves as both a wave and a particle.
Who Discovered Light?
People have always observed light, but its true nature was a mystery for centuries. Various ancient civilisations tried to describe and explain what light was.
The Scientists Behind Light's Discovery
In the 17th century, Isaac Newton showed that white light is made up of different colours using a prism.
In the 19th century, Maxwell explained that light is a wave made of electric and magnetic fields.
Isaac Newton
James Clerk Maxwell
How Was Light Studied?
Through experiments, observation, and mathematics, scientists like Newton and Maxwell revealed how light behaves and travels.
Key People and Their Names
Key figures: Isaac Newton (prism experiments), James Clerk Maxwell (wave theory), Albert Einstein (photon and quantum theory).
Reflect: What Surprised You?
Think about what you learned today about the origins of light and the people who studied it. Did anything surprise you?
Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.
Write down 2 things you want to know more about.
Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.
