Color Spectrum Activity - How to Make Newton’s Disk

Learning Objective

• I can apply my knowledge of light to a color wheel.

Materials

Gather the following materials to be shared among the class.

• Scissors
• Ruler (or scale)
• Glue or tape
• Color crayons, colored pencils or markers
• Compass (the one you use in math class)

Each student will need the following materials.

• Cardboard
• Paper
• A short, sturdy pencil

Directions

• Gather the materials you will need.
• Use the compass to draw a circle of any size on cardboard and cut it out.
• Create a paper circle of the same size as your cardboard circle and cut it out.
• Divide the paper circle into seven evenly-spaced triangles using the ruler.

• Fill in the triangles with the colors of the rainbow, with one color in each triangle.The colors of the rainbow are Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

• Paste the paper circle on the cardboard circle with glue.
• Using your pencil, punch a hole in the center of the circle. Then insert your pencil in the hole with an inch of it sticking out the other side. It should be sharpened.
• Glue or tape your pencil to the circle to secure it and you are done!
• To see its effect, spin it like a top and watch the magic!

Video of Newton’s Disk