Bill Nye: Bending Light
2 positive reviews, 0 negative reviews

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Bill Nye: Bending Light
Author:
Bill Nye (325)
Objective:

This tutorial by Bill Nye explains how light can act as a mirror, "carrying" a beam of light through a stream of water.

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Bending Light

Send a light beam through a water stream.

What You Need:

1. a strong flashlight
2. an empty soda can

What You Do:

1. Take the empty soda can and have an adult poke a hole in the side of the can near the bottom with a strong sharp pencil.
2. Ask your adult to make sure any sharp edges at the hole are pushed into the can so it’s safe for you to put your finger on the hole.
3. Fill the can with water, holding your finger over the hole. Turn out the overhead lights and stand over a sink.
4. Put a flashlight over the top of the can, and take your finger off the hole.
5. Where the water stream lands, you’ll see a beam of light.

What’s Happening?

The light from the flashlight bends and follows the water out of the hole in the can. The inside of the can and the surface of the water stream act like mirrors to reflect the beam of light. The light bounces around inside the water, and follows it wherever it flows.

Bending Light

Here's the same Home Demo in convenient PDF form!

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Questions and Answers


  • Answer 1
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    Paul Chick (188) — 13 days ago

    Did you mean to say " how water can act like a mirror" rather than "how light can act like a mirror in your Objective?

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    •  
      carolyn fruin (394) answered 12 days ago

      We'll get that fixed! Thanks

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  • WannabeBill
    Answers 0
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    WannabeBill — 11 months ago

    Bill, you're awesome...Teach us how gravity bends light.

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Academic Reviews

  • Academically Sound
    Paul Chick
    Paul Chick (188) - about 13 days ago

    "This is a great demonstration for internal reflection and how fiber optic cables work."

  • Academically Sound
    Chip Kramlich
    Chip Kramlich (95) - about 7 months ago

    "Good example of how light can travel through a medium other than air."

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