The Edible Spectrum

Purpose: To learn the order of the visible spectrum and to understand the relationship between wavelength and frequency

Materials (per group)

• 20-30 pieces of candy in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple (amount will depend on the size)
• paper
• science journal
• colored pencils in the colors above

Procedure

1. Give each group 20-30 pieces of each color of candy and have them sort the candy pieces into different color piles.
2. Each student in the group will take a pile of candy.
3. Explain that each color represents a color of the visible spectrum. Review the order of the colors in the visible spectrum and discuss frequency. Review which color has the highest frequency and which color has the lowest frequency.
4. Ask the students to collaborate as a group to create waves out of each color of the candy to represent the visible spectrum. Students will need to order the colors correctly and increase or decrease the wavelength according to its frequency.
5. Monitor the students and guide them as needed.
6. Using the colored pencils, have the students draw their waves on paper.

Conclusion

1. How did you determine the wavelength for each color?
2. What relationship does wavelength have to frequency?
3. What do the candy pieces represent?