Some students may believe light can change direction or travel a curved path without anything externally influencing it

Resources to Address This

• In straight lines (5-11)

  Ref - SPT HS01 TA10

  The notion of light travelling in straight lines may seem obvious to many of the children. You might wish to explore an imaginary scenario which involves the light from the source bending around the ball. What would the shadow on the screen look like then?

  View Resource

References

The following studies have documented this misconception:
 

• Selley, N. J. (1996) Children's ideas on light and vision. International Journal of Science Education, ISSN: 0950-0693 (Print),

  1464-5289.

  Review sheet

• Heywood, D. S. (2005) Primary Trainee Teachers’ Learning and Teaching About Light: Some pedagogic implications for initial teacher training. International Journal of Science Education, 27 (12),

  1447-1475.

  Review sheet