Day 6 of #32Changemaker Challenge – Color Catcher: Investigating Light & Color Science with Databot 2.0
🌈 Why do objects appear different colors?
🔦 How do we measure the intensity of light?
🎨 How does color impact science, technology, and design?
On Day 6 of the #32Changemaker Challenge, we dive into the science of color and light using Databot 2.0’s color sensor. This activity is designed for educators to help students explore how light interacts with different materials, how colors are created, and how this knowledge is applied in industries like environmental science, design, and technology.
Let’s explore the hidden world of light and color through real-time data collection!
🌟 Why This Experiment Matters for Educators
Understanding light and color is fundamental in:
✅ Environmental monitoring – Analyzing light pollution and plant growth efficiency.
✅ Physics & Optics – Understanding how different wavelengths interact with materials.
✅ Digital Displays – How TVs, phone screens, and LED lights produce color.
✅ Art & Design – How designers use color theory in branding and product development.
With Databot 2.0, educators can bring these real-world applications into the classroom in a way that is interactive and hands-on!
🎨 Experiment 1: Measuring Light Absorption & Reflection
Objective:
Use Databot 2.0 to measure how different materials absorb and reflect light.
Materials Needed:
✔ Databot 2.0
✔ Vizeey App (on a smartphone or tablet)
✔ Colored paper (red, blue, green, black, white, yellow, etc.)
✔ Flashlight or natural sunlight
Procedure:
1️⃣ Open the Vizeey App and select Color Sensor.
2️⃣ Place Databot 2.0 on a white surface and record the RGB values.
3️⃣ One by one, place different colored papers under Databot 2.0 and record how the light readings change.
4️⃣ Use a flashlight to test how much light is reflected or absorbed by each color.
5️⃣ Compare how much light black paper absorbs vs. white paper reflecting.
Discussion Questions:
🔹 Why do some colors reflect more light while others absorb it?
🔹 How does this principle apply to solar panels, clothing, and car colors?
🔹 Why do we wear lighter colors in summer and darker colors in winter?
📌 Real-World Connection:
🌱 Farmers use color sensors to study plant health, as healthy leaves reflect more green light!
💡 Experiment 2: Creating a Color Spectrum with Databot 2.0
Objective:
Analyze how Databot 2.0 detects different colors and how RGB light mixing works.
Procedure:
1️⃣ Open the Vizeey App and select Color Sensor.
2️⃣ Shine a red, green, and blue light on Databot 2.0 one at a time and observe the RGB sensor readings.
3️⃣ Combine different colors of light (e.g., red + blue = magenta) and record the new values.
4️⃣ Compare how different wavelengths of light create new colors.
Discussion Questions:
🔹 How does the RGB color system work in digital screens?
🔹 Why do different light sources (LEDs, sunlight, fluorescent) change how colors appear?
🔹 What is the difference between additive (RGB) and subtractive (CMYK) color mixing?
📌 Real-World Connection:
📱 Every TV, phone, and computer screen uses RGB light mixing to display millions of colors!
🌞 Experiment 3: How Light Intensity Changes with Distance
Objective:
Explore how light intensity decreases as you move away from a source.
Materials Needed:
✔ Databot 2.0
✔ Vizeey App
✔ A bright flashlight or lamp
✔ Measuring tape
Procedure:
1️⃣ Open the Vizeey App and select Light Sensor.
2️⃣ Place Databot 2.0 at 10 cm from a flashlight and record the lux reading.
3️⃣ Move Databot 2.0 to 20 cm, 30 cm, 50 cm, and 1 meter, recording light intensity at each step.
4️⃣ Plot a graph of distance vs. light intensity to visualize the inverse square law.
Discussion Questions:
🔹 Why does light intensity weaken over distance?
🔹 How do streetlights and headlights use this principle to optimize brightness?
🔹 How does this knowledge help scientists study distant stars and planets?
📌 Real-World Connection:
🔭 Astronomers use light intensity to measure how far away stars are from Earth!
🔎 Why Educators Should Use This Experiment
✔ Hands-on engagement – Students see light and color physics in action.
✔ Cross-disciplinary connections – Merges physics, environmental science, and digital technology.
✔ STEM Career Readiness – Color and light principles are essential in engineering, media, and science.
With Databot 2.0, educators can transform color theory and light physics into an interactive, fun experience!
📢 Join the #32Changemaker Challenge!
🎯 How Educators Can Participate:
✅ Conduct the Color Catcher experiment in your classroom.
✅ Share your findings and observations on LinkedIn using #32Changemaker Challenge.
✅ Engage with a global STEM educator community to exchange ideas!
🚀 Tomorrow’s Challenge: Light Lab – Investigating Light Intensity & Shadows! Stay tuned!
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do objects appear different colors?
Objects absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others—the color we see is the reflected wavelength.
2. How does Databot 2.0 measure color?
It uses a color sensor that detects RGB (Red, Green, Blue) intensity levels in light.
3. What’s the difference between light absorption and reflection?
- Absorption: Light energy is taken in (e.g., black clothes in sunlight).
- Reflection: Light bounces off (e.g., mirrors, white walls).
4. How do digital screens create colors?
They use RGB pixels—when combined at different intensities, they produce millions of colors.
5. Where can educators get Databot 2.0?
Educators can access special offers through the #32Changemaker Challenge or purchase Databot 2.0 via this link