Book 13, Question 126
Why Do Bike Reflectors Shine When a Car's Headlights Hit Them?
A bike reflector shines because it sends headlight beams straight back to the driver! It is covered in tiny three-sided mirror corners. That makes you easy to spot in the dark.
More fun facts
- Bike reflectors send light from a car's headlights back toward the driver.
- So drivers see their own headlights reflected in the reflector.
- The road reflectors called cat's eyes were invented by a man from Halifax.
- Their inventor was said to be inspired by seeing his headlights reflected in a cat's eyes.
- A teen invented a device to help light up bikes at night.
Sources: Science News Explores, BBC
Questions kids ask
How does a reflector help at night?
It sends a car's headlight beam back to the driver, so the bike gets noticed.