NAME: GRADE&SECTION: DATE:

Newton’s Disk
Objectives: To investigate how white light is made up of seven colors
Introduction
Isaac Newton is responsible for giving the modern world the information that we use
today regarding light and the rainbow. In one experiment, he used two prisms to split a ray of
white light into its colored components, and then put it back together into a ray of white light
again. A simpler way to show how the different colors come together to make up white light is
known as the Newton Disc. This disc can be made by creating a color wheel and spinning it very
fast.
Materials:
 Paper

 Cardboard

 Glue

 Tape

 Scissors

 Hole punch

 Ruler

 Pencil

 A source of colors such as crayons, colored pencils, markers, or paint

Procedure:

1. Collect the materials that you will need for the project.
2. Cut the piece of paper and cardboard into equal size circles.
3. Glue the piece of paper to the cardboard.
4. Divide the circle into seven equal triangles.
5. Color each of the seven sections a different color.
6. Fasten the disc to the pencil.
7. Hold the disc in place.
8. Spin the disc around the pencil.
GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. What colour does your disc make when you spin?

2. How did this happen?

3. What is demonstrated by Newton Colour Disc experiment?