Light and Diffraction experiments for kids by Science Rocks

Diffraction is one of the ways that light behaves when it encounters an object. Light bends when it passes around the edges of an opening or obstacle. This is called diffraction. You can see this at night when you squint when you look at a street light or car headlight. As you close your eyelids, the light seems to spread out in strange stripes as it squeezes through the narrow gaps between your eyelids and eyelashes. The closer your eyelids get together the more the light spreads. Anything with a repetitive small structure can also create diffraction patterns. You can see this when you shine light on a CD or DVD. Other ways light behaves when it reaches an object are reflection, refraction and interference. Try these diffraction experiments and learn more about light!