Rocket shines a flashlight at the back of the shop bike. The red reflector blazes bright.
"Whoa! It glows right back at me!" he says.
Raven steps to the side. "What do you notice from over here?"
From the side, the glow looks dim.
Nova hovers by the flashlight. "Where does a reflector send light?" she asks.
A bike reflector is a special kind of reflector.
It sends light back in the direction it came from.
So a driver's headlights shine on it, and light comes back toward the driver.
The same kind of reflector is in car tail-light covers and road sign paint.
Reflectors like this are even on the Moon!
U.S. safety rules say bikes must come with reflectors.
They help people see a bike in car headlights.
| Spot on the bike | Reflector color |
|---|---|
| front, facing forward | clear (no color) |
| back, facing behind | red |
| pedals, front and back of each | clear or amber (yellow-orange) |
| sides of the wheels | on the spokes, or a reflective tire side |
| Spot | Reflector found? (yes or no) |
|---|---|
| front | |
| back | |
| pedals | |
| wheels |
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| A bike reflector makes its own light. | ? |
| Reflectors help drivers see a bike in headlights. | ? |
| The back reflector is red. | ? |
| Road sign paint can use the same idea. | ? |
Reflector rangers! Tomorrow we compare reflectors with lights and plan a be-seen kit.