Max's Light Lab

See what white light is secretly made of

aim a beam of light through prisms, mirrors and water to split it into a rainbow

PhysicsExploreage 8+

what this teaches: refraction, reflection, the color spectrum, wavelength

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What you'll learn

That white light is secretly every color mixed together, and a prism can split it apart
How light bends (refracts) when it passes from air into water or glass
How mirrors reflect a beam, and how curved mirrors focus or spread it
Why colored filters only let one color of light through
That every color of light has its own wavelength, measured in nanometers

How to play

Pick a flashlight or laser, and choose a single color or white light.
Drag parts like prisms, mirrors, water blocks and filters into the beam's path.
Rotate and reposition parts to bend, bounce or split the beam onto the sensor or screen.
Try one of the ready-made scenes, like making a rainbow or bouncing the beam between two mirrors.

FAQ

What age is this for?

It is built for around age 8 and up, roughly 3rd through 6th grade. Younger children can enjoy dragging parts around even before the angles make full sense.

Do I need to install anything?

No. It runs in any web browser, it is free, and there is no signup or account.

Does it work on a tablet?

Yes. Parts can be tapped into the scene and dragged with touch, and buttons control everything else.

For parents and teachers

This pairs naturally with Max's Sound Wave Lab: color is to the eyes what pitch is to the ears, and both games show an invisible wave property (wavelength, frequency) made visible. It supports the NGSS 4-PS4 waves and MS-PS4 electromagnetic radiation ideas. The 'real glass' toggle is worth pointing out — it shows kids the difference between an exaggerated demo and the true, much subtler effect.