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Wave Reflection, Absorption & Transmittance Activity for Kids

Disappearing Beaker DIY

  • Duration: 15-20 min
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cost: $0 to $10

Learn how to make a version of a ghost crystal by making glass disappear in vegetable oil!

Visit The Full Lesson Download Instructions as PDF

Material List

  • 1Beaker Made of Borosilicate Glass
  • 1Clear Glass Container
  • 1Liter of Vegetable Oil

Instructions

  • 1Put the borosilicate glass beaker into the larger glass container.
  • 2Fill the beaker and then the container with the oil about 2/3 of the way to the top.
  • 3Watch the beaker disappear!

How It Works

The borosilicate glass beaker disappeared! This is possible because the oil and glass have very similar optical properties. Light waves transmit through both materials without much reflection, absorption, or refraction. Normally, we see objects when light reflects off of them and into our eyes. Because of the similar properties of these two materials, light passes from one into the other without reflecting into our eyes, so we cannot see the beaker!

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Check out the Full Lesson on Wave Reflection, Absorption & Transmittance

In this lesson, we learn that:

  • All waves have properties like amplitude, wavelength and frequency.
  • Sound waves need matter to travel through. Light waves can travel through empty space.
  • Waves interacting with matter can be reflected, absorbed, transmitted and refracted.

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