
Flowers Under Ultraviolet Light
Easy
What do flowers look like under ultraviolet light? Human eyes only see a small slice of the light spectrum. Bees and other pollinators see patterns on petals that are invisible to us.
You photograph several flower species under normal room light. Then you switch to a black light (ultraviolet lamp) in a darkened room and photograph the same flowers again.
Compare the two sets of photos. Hidden stripes and color patterns often appear under UV light that you cannot see otherwise.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that flowers look different under ultraviolet light than they do under normal light.
Method & Materials
You will place the flowers in a place with a solid background, take a picture of them under normal light, then change the lighting by placing the black light into the light fixture and take a picture of the flowers under the black light.
You will need a black light (ultraviolet lamp), a freshly cut flower or a potted flowering plant, a camera or cell phone with a camera, printer, poster board, paper, and glue.
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See what’s includedResults
After taking pictures of the flowers under normal light and black light, you will be able to observe patterns and colors that were not visible under normal light.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting and unique because it allows us to see the world from the perspective of an insect.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include using different types of flowers or using different types of light sources.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related videos
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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