LabLearner—The Science of Learning
LabLearner—The Science of Learning

Teacher Portal

Light

Investigation 1 – PreLab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Investigation 1

ZERO-IN

Italicized font represents information to be shared orally or physically completed with the students at this time.

The non-italicized font represents additional information included to support the teacher’s understanding of the content being introduced within the CELL.

ASK WHY

Remind students that light is all around us. It has the ability to tan or burn our skin. It can be harnessed to melt metals, create electricity, and heat our food. It gives us sight, color, warmth, and enables gadgets like computers, cameras, televisions, traffic lights, mirrors, eyeglasses, and microscopes to function.

BRANCH OUT

Remind students that lighting engineers work to reduce our energy use by taking advantage of natural light, sometimes reflecting sunlight off room surfaces to bring light to locations at a distance from windows.

GET FOCUSED

Inform students that the Investigation is designed to help them to answer the following Focus Question:

  • What is the relationship between the absorption and transmission of light through transparent substances? There is an inverse relationship between the amount of light that is transmitted versus that which is absorbed as light interacts with a transparent liquid.

Note: This question is located in students’ SDRs at the beginning and end of the Investigation.

Note: This is a succinct response to the Focus Question and is placed here for your reference at this time. Fully developed responses to the Focus Questions can be found on the PostLab page.

GO DEEPER

As a class, read the Background(s) in the Investigation. Have students read the information aloud or silently to themselves. When students have finished, discuss the following concepts as a class:

  • Scientists use a spectrophotometer to find out exactly how much light is absorbed or transmitted by a liquid.
  • Transmittance is reported as a value between 0 and 100%.
  • 100% indicates that all of the light that is released from the light source is transmitted through the liquid.
  • A value less than 100% indicates that some light is absorbed by the liquid.
  • Absorbance is reported as a value from 0 to 2.0.
  • A reading of 2.0 indicates that all of the light is absorbed by the liquid.
  • A value between 0 and 2.0 indicates that some light is absorbed by the liquid.
  • Scientists use absorbance data to create concentration curves. A concentration curve is a graph of data from a set of samples with known amounts of a substance.
  • Scientists can use a concentration curve to determine the amount of a substance in an unknown sample.

Note: These concepts are integrated into the Background(s) and are used to deepen students’ comprehension of the big ideas.

 

LEARN THE LabLearner LINGO

The following list includes Key Terms that are introduced in the Investigation Background(s). They should be used, as appropriate, by teachers and students during everyday classroom discourse.

  • light wave
  • wavelength
  • nanometer
  • absorbance
  • transmittance

Note: Definitions of these terms can be found on the Introduction page to the CELL.

Note: Additional words may be bolded within the Background(s). These words are not Key Terms and are strictly emphasized for exposure at this time.

SET FOR SUCCESS

  • Introduce the term light to the students. Explain that light is a form of energy that is visible to the human eye. Light has different properties that control how it reacts with its surroundings. Light can be absorbed by matter, transmitted from one place to another, or reflected off of matter.
  • Direct students to complete the Recall section in their SDRs. Student answers may vary.
  • What is light made of?
  • What do you know about light that can help you understand absorption and transmission?
  • Can you name everyday examples of objects that absorb or transmit light?
  • Explain to students that in this first Investigation, they will explore two ways in which light interacts with matter, absorption, and transmission.

Note: Students will limit their investigation to the absorption and transmission of light through transparent substances.

  • Play the video below. Stop to ask students questions or answer students’ questions when necessary. Remind students to follow along with their SDRs and make any notes that they think might be helpful.
  • After the video, direct students to divide into their lab groups to discuss their strategy for the lab. For example, they may assign certain group members to perform specific functions during the lab.

Note: The purpose of the video is to allow students to anticipate the laboratory experience they will soon encounter. Students should leave this PreLab session with a firm idea of what to expect and how to perform in the lab.

Note: Homework is posted below the video.

HOMEWORK

Tell students that they should review the Investigation in preparation for the Lab.