What is a Newton Disc?
The science behind this DIY will show you how the colours of a Newton’s disc blend together and are merged as a blended white light by our brains and eyes. Sir Isaac Newton famously discovered the colours in white light in an experiment of his when he used two prisms to split a ray of white light into its coloured components. Because each colour is refracted differently, each bends at a different angle, resulting in the separation of white light into the colours of the spectrum, much like a rainbow!
A simpler way to show how the different colours come together to make up white light is known as the Newton Disc. This disc can be made by creating a colour wheel and spinning it very fast. This experiment was final proof that white light is made up of all the colours of the visible spectrum. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet… as well as every shade in between.
Materials Required
- coloured pencils x7
- Yarn (90cm)
- Toothpick x1
- Paper x1
- Cardboard x1
- Glue x1
- CD x1
- Paper x1
- Scissors x1
- Ruler x1
How-To Steps (With Videos)
Here are the simple step-by-step instructions (with videos) to create Newton’s disc experiment. Have a look!
Step 1:
Collect all the materials you’ll need for the project.
Step 2:
Glue a white piece of paper on your cardboard using your glue stick.
Step 3:
Outline your CD on to the white paper side of the cardboard. Use your scissors to cut the outline.
Step 4:
Using a ruler, divide your disc into 6 sections and colour each section a different colour using your coloured pencils.
Step 5:
Poke the center of your coloured disc with a toothpick and stick your piece of string or yarn through the hole.
Step 6:
You did it! Wind up your yarn up and pull at the ends of the string to spin the disc. Observe how the colours change!
Share with the Twinner Community!
Share your creative talents with our Twinner community on the Twin App!
You can do this in two easy steps!
- Download the Twin App and create your account
- Search for the challenge by its name in the app (i.e. “Newton Disc”) and upload a video of your creation today!
Read more about light and colour or download the Twin App and complete the Where did the Colours Go? adventure! Watch the trailer here:
Go a step further and make a motorized Newton Disc with the Robotic Art Kit!
Twin App is an educational app that kids can play educational games on. Inside we have Trivia, DIY projects, and Adventures that have many learning games for kids. Both the Twin App and Twin Science Kits teach STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) & Arts subjects and 21st century skills.
Sarah Evans 🖋️
Science Teacher
