Test Your Colour Vision

Materials:

• crayons
• scraps of paper
• dark room

Method:

1)     Turn off the lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness.

2)     Pass out the crayons. Try to guess what colour they are.

3)     Use the crayon to write what colour you think the crayon is on a scrap of paper. When everyone’s taken their guess, turn the lights back on and see if you were right!

Explanation: There are two types of cells that make up the lining of the retina on the back of the eye, that allow us to see. Rod cells allow us to perceive the difference between light and dark (e.g. black and white vision). Cone cells see in colour… however, they require high light levels in order to accurately detect colours. In low light levels, they don’t work very well… which is why it’s so easy to fool your eyes in this trick!

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