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Home » Science Fair Projects » Science Fair Project – Easy Light Maze

Science Fair Project – Easy Light Maze

Modified: Apr 29, 2024 · Published: Sep 9, 2019 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Light travels in straight lines through empty space. If it hits an object some of it is reflected back and the rest is absorbed by the object. It is this reflection of light that allows us to see objects around us. The walls, tables and chairs in your room don’t emit their own light, you can see them because they reflect light either from the sun or artificial light.

When light hits a transparent object ( a window is a good example of this ) some is absorbed and reflected but most passes through.

Light maze for learning about how light travels in straight lines. Maze is made from DUPLO and mirrors.

How does light travel?

Light comes from a light source. This could be the Sun, a torch, a fire or a candle.

Light travels in straight lines and cannot bend. In the mazes below, we used mirrors to reflect light around corners.

When a light ray hits a mirror, it is reflected off the mirror which changes the direction of the light. The angle of the reflected light is the same as the angle of the incoming light.

Diagram showing the reflection off light off a surface

If the path of the beam of light changes ( you move the torch or the mirror ) the path of the reflected beam also changes.

How to make a light maze

This activity helps children understand that light travels in straight lines but can be reflected.

What you need to make a light maze

Mirrors

Flashlight

Modelling clay – to hold the mirrors

Card and pens ( optional )

How to make a light maze

Light mazes can be set up as a structured exercise or completely open ended.

I slightly themed our mazes, but that’s obviously completely optional.

Light Maze 1 – Light up the road

This one is set up like a road. The idea is to find a way for the grey car to light up the road around both corners.

light maze idea. Image shows a large sheet of card with toy cars, mirrors and a torch.

Two mirrors allow this to work nicely.

light maze showing the reflection of light around a corner

You can see here how each mirror reflects the light.

light maze with mirrors

Light Maze 2 – Light up a safe route

This maze uses just one mirror. The idea is for children to find a way to help the toy soldiers see a safe path around the water and crocodile.

Light Maze - Toy Soldier theme

You can see in the photo how one mirror does this nicely.

Light maze activity ideas

Light Maze 3 – LEGO Light Maze

We used DUPLO for speed, but Lego would work just as well. I used lots of small mirrors to fit in the corners and had to cut some down to size.

Lego light maze
Duplo light maze using mirrors to show how light travels in straight lines.

Light Maze Extension Task

Try to create a light maze without using the flashlight to test as you go along. Does it work when you turn on the light source?

Can you create a coloured maze using coloured sheets of cellophane?

Facts about light

We can see the moon as it reflects light from the sun.

Some animals make their own light! Fireflies are a good example of this.

You can split light into the colours of the rainbow using a prism.

Light travels at 299,792,458 meters per second.

Light from the sun takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach the Earth

Did you know most animals don’t recognise their reflection and often attack it?

More light experiments

Create circuits to light up a model village.

Make a rainbow with a prism

Find out why the sky looks blue.

Light Maze Instructions - instructions for how to make a light maze #lightforkids #lightexperiments #scienceforkids

Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David Wilson

    April 29, 2024 at 8:49 am

    Hi!
    Fantastic website and terrific resource! My students loved it! On your light maze experiment though, it says that the speed of light is 299,792,458 miles per second. That is not correct. It is 299,792,458 METERS per second, or 186,282 miles per second.

    Sorry to be picky, but I’m a science teacher and I used your experiment in class. I was not the one who saw your error originally, it was one of my seventh grade students. Now I know that they were paying attention!

    Thanks,

    Dave Wilson
    Science Teacher

    Reply
    • Emma Vanstone

      April 29, 2024 at 1:06 pm

      Thank you, that is now corrected!

      Reply

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