Science Smarts: Understand the beauty that surrounds us

By PATTY ROOKS on July 31, 2021.

Although the skies have been hazy and smoky lately, the evening sunsets are amazing.

The colours you see on the horizon in the evening are breathtaking. We often take these beautiful phenomenons for granted. If you have time this weekend, take a moment and look to the sky in the west and enjoy the view! If you are unable to get out, then try this in your kitchen at home so you can better understand the beauty that surrounds us each and every day.

Let’s get started!

Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment

Materials

– Tall clear drinking glass

– Tap water

– Sheet of white paper

– Very bright flashlight

– Skim milk

– Measuring spoon

– Tape

– Sturdy work surface near a wall

– Spoon

– Room that you can make dark if necessary

Procedure

Find a good sturdy work surface near a wall. A table or desk will work well. Make sure you are allowed to use this area as this experiment could get messy if you spill.

Place the clear drinking glass on the table.

Directly across from the glass, on the wall, tape the sheet of white paper.

Fill the glass approximately 3/4 full of water.

Turn on the flashlight and shine it through the glass of water.

Observe the colours that shine through onto the sheet of white paper. Note: You may need to darken the room a little bit if you have some difficulty seeing the colours.

Think about what you just saw.

Measure out one tablespoon (15 mL) of milk.

Stir the milk into the glass of water.

Darken the room if necessary and shine the flashlight through the glass of water and milk.

Observe what colours shine through onto the white paper now.

Explanation

After you added the milk to the water, you should have been able to see only the colours orange and red shine through onto the white paper.

This is similar to how a sunset works; especially right now with the summer conditions we are experiencing. The atmosphere (sky) is very full of dust, smoke, pollen and many other microscopic particles. These particles filter the sunlight that we can see. This is why when you observe a sunset outside; it will be bright orange and red right now.

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Find us at #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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