Shiny or dull?
Aluminium foil shines in the light. An eraser does not. Why do they look so different?
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The idea
They are made of different materials. The foil is shiny and the eraser is dull.
Lustre — the shine of a material. Lustrous — shiny. Non-lustrous — dull.
A shiny material has lustre. A dull material has no lustre.
Step 1 of 4
- Aluminium foil and an eraser.
- Light falls on both.
- The foil shines. It has lustre.
- The eraser looks dull. It has no lustre.
| Shiny (lustrous) | Dull (non-lustrous) |
|---|---|
| Aluminium foil | Eraser |
| Steel spoon | Cardboard |
| Iron nail, cleaned | Wooden ruler |
Watch out!
Rust and dirt can hide a shine. Clean the iron nail and it shines. Varnish is a clear paint that dries shiny. Wood with varnish can shine too.