Newton Disc - Spinning Color Wheel

A Newton Disc demonstrates how colors of the spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet) blend together when spun rapidly, appearing as white light to the human eye.

1. Gather materials: cardboard, paper, scissors, ruler, glue, CD, colored pencils, toothpick, and yarn.
2. Glue a white sheet of paper onto cardboard for stiffness.
3. Trace around a CD or use a compass to make a circular disc and cut it out.
4. Use a ruler to divide the circle into six sections.
5. Color each section with one of the main rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet).
6. Poke a hole through the center and insert a toothpick or thread yarn through to act as a spinner.
7. Spin the disc quickly by twisting and pulling the yarn or spinning with the toothpick.
8. Observe that the colors blur together and appear nearly white.

Newtons Disc - Reverse RAINBOW - Kids Fun Science:

Mixing Colours to make White Light! (Newton Disc Explained) - Silly Science with Simon:

📄 How to Make a Newton Disc - Twin Science: https://www.twinscience.com/en/blog/how-to-make-a-newton-disc/#:~:text=A%20simpler%20way%20to%20show,colours%20of%20the%20visible%20spectrum.

• Use more divisions and include indigo to match Newton’s original ROYGBIV spectrum.
• Make a motorized Newton Disc using a small electric motor for continuous spinning.
• Try other color combinations (primary colors, secondary colors, complementary colors) and compare the effect.
• Use paints or markers instead of pencils for more vibrant blending.

• Use scissors carefully when cutting the disc.
• Be cautious with toothpicks or sharp points when making the center hole.
• Spin safely—avoid hitting others with the disc or string.

• Why do the colors on the disc appear white when spun quickly? (Because the eye and brain cannot separate the rapidly moving colors, and they blend together into the perception of white light.)
• What did Newton’s original prism experiment prove about light? (That white light is composed of all the visible spectrum colors, which can be separated and recombined.)
• Why doesn’t the disc always look perfectly white? (Because the blending is not exact - imperfections in coloring, speed, or spacing can leave faint tints visible.)
• How is this experiment similar to how computer or phone screens create colors? (Screens use additive color mixing—tiny red, green, and blue lights blend in the eye to appear as many colors, including white.)