Reason for the Seasons Lab: Angle of Light Investigation

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EASY SUPPLIES (with easy substitutions)! Students measure how the angle at which the Earth receives light changes the intensity and spread of the light.

In this activity, students will:

• PERFORM THE LAB: Students aim a flashlight (or a cell phone light – see note below) at graph paper at various angles and measure the area that the light spreads. Clear and easy-to-follow instructions are included, as well as a data table to record results.
• GRAPH area of light versus angle of light to see that the larger the angle, the larger the area that the light spreads over and the less concentrated it is.
• ANSWER follow-up analysis questions, including a CER.

Easy Materials List:

• Flashlight (We include instructions on how to rig a cellphone flashlight to work, as well.)
• Toilet paper or paper towel tube (Not necessary if using the cell phone set-up.)
• Tape
• Ruler
• Graph paper (printable graph paper included with purchase)
• Protractor (printable protractor included with purchase)
• Also Required But Can Be Substituted: box, clipboard, colored pencils

Teacher Notes:

• INCLUDES AN ANSWER KEY.
• Please note that this seasons lab is not editable.
• NGSS Standards: MS ESS1-1
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practices: Developing and using models
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Planning and carrying out investigations
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Analyzing and interpreting data
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Engaging in argument from evidence
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Related Standards:

• NGSS MS-ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses, and seasons.