Light Travels in Straight Lines

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Waves, Light & Sound|Ages 10—11|ID: mt_qZro923zvz

Recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines and use this to explain how we see objects and why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them

Mastery Evidence

State and demonstrate that light travels in straight lines (e.g. can't see around corners, laser pointer)
Use straight-line light to explain why shadows have the same outline shape as the object
Draw ray diagrams showing light travelling from source, being blocked by object, creating shadow on screen

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] explain why a shadow of a hand looks like a hand shape, using the idea that light travels in straight lines?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

Y6.Sci.L.1The national curriculum in England

Light travels in straight lines

recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines

Science · Key Stage 2

Y6.Sci.L.4The national curriculum in England

Shadows have the same shape as objects

use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them

Science · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites3

How We See Objects
hardAges 9—11
How Shadows Form
hardAges 7—8
Wave Behaviour Vocabulary
hardAges 9—11

Show full prerequisite tree

How We See Objects hard
Must understand reflection-to-eye model before using straight-line light to explain how we see
- Reflecting Light hard
  Must know light reflects off surfaces before modelling reflection-to-eye vision
  - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
    Must understand light illuminates objects before learning about reflection
    - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
      Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
  - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
    Noticing that light is reflected from surfaces requires 'reflect' vocabulary
- How Shadows Form soft
  Shadow knowledge supports understanding how light interacts with objects
  - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
    Must know light sources before understanding shadow patterns
    - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
      Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
  - Transparent, Translucent & Opaque hard
    Must understand opaque materials block light before understanding shadow formation
    - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
      Must understand light sources illuminate objects before testing how materials interact with light
      - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
    - Describing Material Properties soft
      Material properties knowledge (transparent/opaque) supports light investigation
      - States of Matter Vocabulary soft
        Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
      - Naming Everyday Materials hard
        Must name materials before describing their properties
        
        Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials
    - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
      Investigating transparent, translucent, and opaque materials requires those three terms
  - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
    Explaining shadow formation requires 'opaque' and 'light source' vocabulary
- Wave Behaviour Vocabulary hard
  Modelling light reflecting from objects into the eye requires reflection vocabulary
How Shadows Form hard
Must understand shadows before formalising that light travels in straight lines to explain shadows
- Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
  Must know light sources before understanding shadow patterns
  - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
    Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
- Transparent, Translucent & Opaque hard
  Must understand opaque materials block light before understanding shadow formation
  - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
    Must understand light sources illuminate objects before testing how materials interact with light
    - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
      Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
  - Describing Material Properties soft
    Material properties knowledge (transparent/opaque) supports light investigation
    - States of Matter Vocabulary soft
      Describing physical properties of materials uses solid/liquid/gas vocabulary introduced in the states of matter LANGUAGE node
    - Naming Everyday Materials hard
      Must name materials before describing their properties
      - Objects vs Materials hard
        Must distinguish objects from materials before naming specific materials
  - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
    Investigating transparent, translucent, and opaque materials requires those three terms
- Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
  Explaining shadow formation requires 'opaque' and 'light source' vocabulary
Wave Behaviour Vocabulary hard
Explaining shadows and sight using straight-line light travel requires reflection/absorption vocabulary

Unlocks1

Reflection & Refraction
hardAges 11—12