Pedagogical guidelines and construction instructions
The Colour Spinning Disk is based on a physics experiment, usually called the Newton disk. This is a rotating disk whose surface is divided into different colours, that appear to be white or grey when it is spun quickly. The colours are the primary colures blue, red, and yellow and its variants, green, orange, violet.
The Colour Spinning Disk described here is designed for children from 4 to 7 years old. Teachers can adapt the ideas to other ages.
Tutorial
It can be implemented using only primary colours, e.g. red and yellow, or red and blue, or blue and yellow. In this case, it will appear to be orange, in the first situation, or violet or green, in the second and third situations, when the disk is spun quickly.
Learning goals
When constructing the Spinning Disk several learning goals can be achieved.
- To learn about physics
- Properties of light and colour.
- History of science
- Mechanisms – rotation mechanisms
- Forms of energy – work and windpower
- To learn about biology: Perception mechanisms (persistence of vision)
- To learn mathematical concepts: shapes, circles and triangles, numbers, and equal parts/fractions
- To develop engineering competences
- To develop competencies of analysis and construction.
Instructions
How to use the Colour Spinning Disk step by step guide – English here
Pião Colorido – Download the Step by step guide in Portuguese here
Il disco rotante – Istruzioni in italiano
Въртящ се диск на Нютон – инструкции за строителство