Year 6 Science · How we see · Summary
Year 6 Science How we see: summary and key words
Part of the Year 6 Science how we see chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Light sources | A light source gives out its own light. Most objects are seen because they reflect light. |
| Reflection | A mirror reflects light. The incoming ray and the reflected ray make equal angles with the normal. |
| Paths to the eye | Light goes from a source straight to the eye, or from a source to an object, then to the eye. |
| The eye | Light enters the pupil, the lens focuses it on the retina, and the optic nerve carries signals to the brain. |
| Safety | Never look at the Sun, and never reflect sunlight into anyone's eyes with a mirror. |
Can you…?
- I can sort objects into light sources and reflectors
- I can describe the two paths of light from a source to the eye
- I can use the rule that the reflected angle equals the incoming angle
- I can name the main parts of the eye and what each one does
- I can describe safe rules for light and mirrors, and never look at the Sun
Key terms
- light source
- an object that gives out its own light, such as the Sun, a lamp or a candle
- reflect
- to bounce light off a surface
- reflector
- an object that reflects light from a source, such as a book or the Moon
- mirror
- a smooth, shiny surface that reflects most of the light that hits it
- normal
- the line at right angles to a mirror, from which angles are measured
- incoming ray
- the light that arrives at a mirror or surface
- reflected ray
- the light that bounces off a mirror or surface
- pupil
- the opening in the eye that light enters through
- lens
- the part of the eye that focuses light onto the retina
- retina
- the layer at the back of the eye, with light-sensitive cells
- optic nerve
- the nerve that carries signals from the retina to the brain