Ages

Introduction

Summary

Light behaves like a flow of particles,  called photons, which travel at the speed of light. Photons are emitted by primary sources (the Sun, light bulb filaments, etc.) and can be reflected or absorbed by other objects.
The Moon is a secondary source of light because it only reflects a part of the light it receives, without emitting any.
An ideal mirror would produce optimal reflection of light, as it would reflect all the photons that strike it.

Goals

• To understand what the light is made of and how it behaves when it strikes specific obstacles.

Features

Click on the icon at upper left to compare photons striking the Moon, and those striking a mirror.

Tags

photons speed-of-light light mirror moon source