--- title: "Newton's colour wheel - art and science" url: "https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/blog/2022-01-05-18-10-41-newton-s-colour-wheel-art-and-science" school: "Bridge & Patrixbourne CEP School" --- # Newton's colour wheel - art and science ![Image of Newton's colour wheel - art and science](https://files.schudio.com/bridge-patrixbourne-cep-school-2/images/blog/IMG_5763.JPG) 5 January 2022 [Cally Smith](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/blog/author/callysmith) This week, Year 5 have been learning about the artist’s colour wheel. The modern colour-wheel is based on Sir Isaac Newton’s experimentation with light. While Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, he experimented by shining white light (daylight) through a glass prism, splitting it into the individual colours of the visible spectrum (colours seen by the human eye). He identified six colours: red, orange, yellow, green, indigo (blue) and violet (purple). We conducted Newton’s experiment in the Year 5 classrooms and discovered how and why the light splits into individual colours. We discussed the colour wheel and how it is used by artists. Pupils then went on to mix secondary and tertiary colour and paint their own colour wheel. Please see the gallery below: [Art](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/blog/tag/art) [Science](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/blog/tag/science) [ Forest School Year R 4.1.2022 ](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/blog/2022-01-04-11-30-00-forest-school-year-r-4-1-2022) [Sam's Olympic Hockey Experience ](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/blog/2022-01-06-12-07-31-sam-s-olympic-hockey-experience) ![Bridge & Patrixbourne CEP School](https://files.schudio.com/bridge-patrixbourne-cep-school-2/images/logo/Untitled_design_(13).png) #### Bridge & Patrixbourne CEP School Conyngham Lane Canterbury Kent CT4 5JX 01227 830276 #### Quick Links - [Accelerated Reader](https://login.renaissance.com/12d2c70d-6700-47cc-8697-963c18493e4b/student?state=15f6cdf1-f2d2-403e-9e79-11dbb19009d1) - [BromCom ](https://cloudmis.bromcom.com/Nucleus/Framework/Login.aspx) - [Bromcom Help Centre](https://www.docs.bromcom.com) - [BromCom Training Portal](https://bridgeandpatrixbourne.bromcom.efrontlearning.com/) #### Useful Links - [Admission](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/key-information/admissions) - [Contact Us](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/contact) - [Inclusion & SEN](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/key-information/inclusion-sen) - [PTFA](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/parents/ptfa) - [Safeguarding](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/safeguarding/the-safeguarding-welfare-team) - [Term Dates](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/key-information/term-dates) #### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/bridge.patrixbourne.school) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bridge.patrixbourne.school/) © Copyright 2025–2026 Bridge & Patrixbourne CEP School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://bridge.kent.sch.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)