How can you tell they’ve got it: White Light & Colour?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Lists the colours of the visible spectrum in order of increasing frequency; Explains why a prism disperses white light into a spectrum; Explains why a red object looks red under white light but black under blue light; Predicts the colour of an object seen through a colour filter. Or just try it together: If your child shone white light through a prism, could they explain why a rainbow of colours appears — and then predict what colour a blue jumper would look under red light and why?

Science Waves, Light & Sound Ages 11–12

White Light & Colour

Your child knows white light is a mix of all the rainbow colours. A prism splits them apart. A red jumper looks red because it reflects red light and soaks up the rest.

In curriculum terms

Explain that white light is a mixture of all visible colours (ROYGBIV), describe dispersion through a prism, explain why objects appear coloured (selective reflection and absorption of wavelengths), and describe colour mixing with filters

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Lists the colours of the visible spectrum in order of increasing frequency
Explains why a prism disperses white light into a spectrum
Explains why a red object looks red under white light but black under blue light
Predicts the colour of an object seen through a colour filter

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child shone white light through a prism, could they explain why a rainbow of colours appears — and then predict what colour a blue jumper would look under red light and why?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Reflection & Refractionages 11–12Dispersion of white light into a spectrum relies on understanding refraction (light bending at a boundary)

How We See Objectsages 9–11Prior work on how light reflects into the eye provides context for understanding colour perception

White Light & Colourthis skill · ages 11–12

Unlocks

Ray Diagrams & Imagesages 12–13Ray diagrams for prisms and lenses connect to colour and dispersion concepts

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

How Sound Waves Travelages 11–12 Reflection & Refractionages 11–12 Wave Properties & Typesages 11–12 Drawing Ray Diagramsages 12–13

All Waves, Light & Sound skills →