What colour is light? Today, we propose a trip back in time of three and a half centuries to our youngest scientists. Let’s try out an experiment conceived by Sir Isaac Newton to reveal that although our perception of light is white, it is really a combination of seven colours. The students need to develop rotating coloured discs to mix their reflected light. This old game, which reminds us of spinning tops, will allow them to learn important physical concepts, including the composition and decomposition of light. Moreover, the activity allows them to pursue artistic connections with theatre, music and cinema, revealing how such mechanisms really work.
The Newton’s Tops experiment is one of the activities described in the Tinkering Coding Making Ages 6-8 volume published by collana Erickson ICS. It’s an easy to use, practical manual for teachers and parents to programme, design and experiment together with children. Try this activity!
