WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Physical Science 11, Quarter __2__, Week _5__

LIGHT AS A WAVE AND A PARTICLE

Name: ____________________________ Section: ____________________

Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs)

1.Explain various light phenomena such as: (S11/12PS-IVh-66)
A. Your reflection on the concave and convex sides of a spoon looks different
B. Mirages
C. Light from a red laser passes more easily through red cellophane than green cellophane
D. Clothing of certain colors appear different in artificial light and in sunlight
E. Haloes, sundogs, primary rainbows, secondary rainbows, and supernumerary bows
F. Why clouds are usually white and rainclouds dark
G. Why the sky is blue and sunsets are reddish
2. Describe how Hertz produced radio pulses (S11/12PS-IVi-68)

Learning Objectives:
a. Explain the behavior of light in different media.
b. Describe how Hertz produced radio pulses.
c. Share the learned concepts to others.

Time Allotment: 4 hours

Key Concepts

Light and light phenomena

 The luminous energy manifests itself in nature through a phenomenon known as light. It
comes from objects capable of emitting them, called light sources. The sun is our greatest
source of light. In dark places, we light up using light bulbs, lanterns, candles, matches,
fire, etc.
 Dispersion of light. When the white light passes through a prism, it breaks down into the
colors that form it, then it can be seen. This phenomenon is known as light scattering.
When the sun rays pass through small drops of rain, they act as small prisms and scatter
the light, thus forming a rainbow.
 Absorption of light. Objects can absorb the light that reach them. If it absorbs all the light
it receives, it will be black. If a material that does not absorb light, reflecting all, will be
white and when an object absorbs some of the components of white light, the color will be
the result of the colors of the reflected light. So if it reflects red, it will be red, if blue will
reflect blue.
 Reflection of light. It is the change of direction and sense that light rays suffer when they
collide with a surface of a medium other than the one that they move. The bodies that do
not produce their own light can see them because they reflect the light that comes to them.
A highly polished surface, such as a mirror, reflects most of the light falling on it. Let us
recall the laws of reflection – (i) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and
(ii) The incident ray, the normal to the mirror at the point of incidence and the reflected ray,
all lie in the same plane. These laws of reflection are applicable to all types of reflecting
surfaces including spherical surfaces. Image formed by a plane mirror is always virtual and
erect. The size of the image is equal to that of the object. The image formed is as far behind
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 the mirror as the object is in front of it. Further, the image is laterally inverted. How would
the images be when the reflecting surfaces are curved? The curved surface of a shining
spoon could be considered as a curved mirror. The most commonly used type of curved
mirror is the spherical mirror. The reflecting surface of such mirrors can be considered to
form a part of the surface of a sphere. Such mirrors, whose reflecting surfaces are spherical,
are called spherical mirrors. Concave Mirrors have real images except when the object is
very close to the mirror. Their images are inverted when real and upright when virtual.
Convex mirrors on the other hand, have enlarged images for certain positions and
diminished for others. Their images are virtual and upright and diminished.

www.teacherspayteachers.com
Figure 1. Concave and concave mirrors Figure 2. Mirage

 Refraction of light. When a light ray, for example, that travels through the air passes from
this to another medium, such as water, there is a change in its speed and direction. This
phenomenon is known as refraction of light. Because of this, when we introduce a pencil in
a glass with water, there is an optical illusion that makes the pencil look like a halved partly.
Also by the same phenomenon, a stone located in the bottom of a swimming pool, is seen
as to less depth than it really is. This phenomenon always occurs when a ray of light passes
from one medium to another. Another example is the phenomenon called mirage. (See
Figure 2 above for the example).

Activity 1. Spoon the Difference!

What you need:
Spoon ½ crosswise paper & pen
What to do:
1. Take a large shining spoon. Try to view your face in its curved surface.
2. Move the spoon slowly away from your face. Observe the image.
3. Reverse the spoon and repeat the activity.
4. Compare the characteristics of the image on the two surfaces.
5. Write your answers on a one half crosswise of paper.

Table 1. Size and Orientation of Image

Part of the Spoon Size of Image Orientation of Image
(Diminished or Enlarged) (Upright or Inverted)
Inner surface of the spoon
Backside of the spoon

Guide Questions:
1. What is the image when you viewed your face in its inner surface? Is it smaller or larger?
2. How did the image change when you moved the spoon slowly away from your face?
3. How does the image look like when you reversed the spoon?
4. What type of mirror can you associate with the inner surface of the spoon? How about the
backside?
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Activity 2. Now You See It! Now You Don’t!

What you need:

1/2 crosswise paper & pen

What to do: Read the interview of the famous Dora, the explorer then answer the guide questions
that follow. Write you answers in a ½ crosswise paper.

Announcer: Dora, an explorer, has just returned from an expedition in the Sahara Desert.
We are fortunate enough to conduct the first live interview with her.
Reporter: Dora, I understand that you did not finish your journey across the Sahara.
Dora: Quite right. If it weren’t for those pesky mirages, I would have completed the journey.
Reporter: Mirages kept you from finishing your expedition?
Dora: Yes.

Guide Questions:
1. How does mirage occur?
2. Mirage is an example of what property of light?
3. How did the mirages keep Dora from finishing her journey across the Sahara Desert?

Rubric for Scoring

3 – Natural phenomenon is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, and has no
misconception.
2 - Natural phenomenon is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts but with
minimal misconception.
1 – Natural phenomenon is explained consistent to the concepts but with misconceptions.

Activity 3. Color Pass!

 The light spectrum. If a beam of white light is shone through a triangular prism, a rainbow
is produced. This is because the white light is a mixture of many different colors. When
white light passes through a prism, it is split up into separate colors. It is a mixture of
red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet light. It is our eye that sees this mixture as 'white'.
 Colored filters. Colorless glass lets light pass through it unhindered. Cellophane and
colored glass are also transparent because you can see through them. However, the color
of what you see is changed. If you look through red cellophane, everything on the other side
appears to be shades of red. If you look through green glass, everything appears green.
Green cellophane will only allow green light to pass through it. The cellophane absorbs
other colors of light. In a red cellophane, green light is absorbed that is why it will not pass
through it. A yellow color filter will let through only yellow and absorb all other colors. So,
when blue light is allowed through a blue filter onto a blue object, the object will still reflect
blue and therefore appear blue. But when blue light from a blue filter hits a red object, the
blue will be absorbed and no light will be reflected, giving the object an appearance of being
black.
 White surfaces. When light hits any surface (e.g. a book, a tablecloth or your clothes) it
may be reflected off the surface. A white sheet of paper reflects almost all the light that falls
on it. It reflects white light because it can reflect all the colors of the spectrum that comprise
white light. If red light only is shone onto a white page, the red light is reflected. If green

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 light is shone onto the page, the green light is reflected. White surfaces can reflect all colors
of light.
 Colored surfaces. Clothes can be made up of many different colors. We see them as colored
because of the way they reflect light. A red surface reflects only red light. When white light
hits a red jumper, only the red light is reflected. All the other colors in the white light are
absorbed by the dyes in the jumper. A blue tablecloth reflects only blue light. It absorbs
red, orange, yellow, green and violet colored light. The blue light may be reflected into our
eyes. This is why we see it as blue. Some colors are complex. For example, cyan (blue-green)
paint reflects a mixture of blue and green light and absorbs other colors. Our brain sees
the reflected mixture as cyan.

What You Need:

 Well-lighted area
 Colored cellophane (red, green, blue)
 Colored papers cut into different shapes (yellow, green, blue, red colored papers)
 Paste

What to do:

1. Paste the colored papers cut into different shapes in the bond paper. Place the red
cellophane on top of the colored papers.
2. Describe what you see. Repeat procedure no.1 using green and blue cellophanes.
3. Write your observation in your journal notebook.
Table 2. Color Result

Cellophane Colored Paper

Red Green Blue Yellow

Red

Green

Blue

Guide Questions:
1. Why does the colored paper not appear the same color after a different colored cellophane
was placed over it?
2. Why do red, green and yellow colored papers appear the same after the same color of
cellophane was placed over them?

Activity 4. Hello HalOwS!

 Haloes. Solar halo, which is also called gloriole, icebow or nimbus, is a light phenomenon
that happens when light shines through clouds that are composed of ice crystals. Light
refracts upon passing through the ice crystals and also reflects upon hitting the crystal’s
faces; these events cause the formation of the bright ring around the Sun or Moon. Halo is
usually bright white ring but may also have colors due to the dispersion of light upon
striking the ice crystals.
 Sundogs. Sundogs, or parhelion (with the sun), happen due to the refraction of light upon
hitting the small crystals that make up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. These crystals are
hexagonal in shape and with faces almost horizontal upon drifting; these cause the
formation of spots of light (sundog) on either side of the Sun, or the Moon, when light strikes
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 them at a minimum angle of 22 degrees. Since red light is the least refracted compared to
blue this makes the inner edge of a sundog to be red hued.
 Rainbows. A rainbow is a light phenomenon formed from the combination of several light
properties like refraction, reflection, and dispersion. Rainbows are usually seen after rainfall
because they are formed when light strikes the scattered raindrops in the atmosphere. Due
to the differences in the frequency of the colors of visible light, they are refracted at different
amounts and are dispersed. The dispersed colors reflect upon hitting the other side of the
raindrop and then refracted again as they go out. The colors go out dispersed and reach the
observer’s eyes. Primary rainbow is formed when light hits a raindrop, refracted and single
reflection happens inside the raindrop. Secondary rainbows are formed when two inner
reflections are done instead of one; this causes the reversal of colors in a secondary rainbow
in comparison to a primary rainbow. Supernumerary rainbows are formed when light
strikes small raindrops with almost the same size. These are bands of green, pink and
purple colors found inside the primary rainbow (www.science.howstuffworks.com).

Direction: Analyze the photographs of HalOwS (Hal-Haloes, Ow- Rainbow, S- Sundog) and
answer the guide questions below on your journal notebook.

A. B.

science.howstuffworks.com

science.howstuffworks.com
C. D.

Guide Questions:

1. Which photo shows a halo? What causes the formation of haloes?

2. Which photo depicts sundogs? What property of light causes sundogs?
3. Rainbows are spectacular view in the sky. What is the difference between a primary
rainbow and secondary rainbow?
4. Which among the pictures is a supernumerary bow? How is a supernumerary bow
formed?

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Activity 5. Fleeting Beauty at 20!

What you need:

1/2 crosswise paper & pen

 Blue Skies and Red Sunsets. The interaction of sunlight with matter can result in one of
three wave behaviors: absorption, transmission, and reflection. The atmosphere is a
gaseous sea that contains a variety of types of particles; the two most common types of
matter present in the atmosphere are gaseous nitrogen and oxygen. These particles are
most effective in scattering the higher frequency and shorter wavelength portions of the
visible light spectrum. This scattering process involves the absorption of a light wave by an
atom followed by reemission of a light wave in a variety of directions. The amount of
multidirectional scattering that occurs is dependent upon the frequency of the light.
Atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen scatter violet light most easily, followed by blue light,
green light, etc. So as white light (ROYGBIV) from the sun passes through our atmosphere,
the high frequencies (BIV) become scattered by atmospheric particles while the lower
frequencies (ROY) are most likely to pass through the atmosphere without a significant
alteration in their direction. This scattering of the higher frequencies of light illuminates the
skies with light on the BIV end of the visible spectrum. Compared to blue light, violet light
is most easily scattered by atmospheric particles. However, our eyes are more sensitive to
light with blue frequencies. Thus, we view the skies as being blue in color.

Meanwhile, the light that is not scattered is able to pass through our atmosphere and reach
our eyes in a rather non-interrupted path. The lower frequencies of sunlight (ROY) tend to
reach our eyes as we sight directly at the sun during midday. While sunlight consists of the
entire range of frequencies of visible light, not all frequencies are equally intense. In fact,
sunlight tends to be most rich with yellow light frequencies. For these reasons, the sun
appears yellow during midday due to the direct passage of dominant amounts of yellow
frequencies through our atmosphere and to our eyes.
As the path that sunlight takes through our atmosphere increases in length, ROYGBIV
encounters more and more atmospheric particles. This results in the scattering of greater
and greater amounts of yellow light. During sunset hours, the light passing through our
atmosphere to our eyes tends to be most concentrated with red and orange frequencies of
light. For this reason, the sunsets have a reddish-orange hue. The effect of a red sunset
becomes more pronounced if the atmosphere contains more and more particles. The
presence of sulfur aerosols (emitted as an industrial pollutant and by volcanic activity) in
our atmosphere contributes to some magnificent sunsets.(www.physicsclassroom.com)

 White Clouds and Dark Rainclouds. Clouds are visible accumulation of tiny water droplets
or ice crystals in the Earth’s atmosphere. They differ greatly in size, shape, and color. They
can appear thin and wispy, or bulky and lumpy. Clouds usually appear white because the
tiny water droplets inside them are tightly packed reflecting most of the sunlight that hits
them. White is how our eyes perceive all wavelengths of sunlight mixed together. When it’s
about to rain, clouds darken because the water vapor is clumping together into raindrops
leaving spaces between drops of water. Less light is reflected. The rain cloud appears black
or gray.

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What to do: Answer the following questions by writing an essay not exceeding 20 words.
Table 2. Short response essay

Questions Answer
1. Why is the sky blue?

2. Why are the sunsets reddish?

3. Why are clouds usually white and

rainclouds dark?

Rubric for Scoring

3 – Natural phenomenon is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, and has no
misconception.
2 - Natural phenomenon is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts but with
minimal misconception.
1 – Natural phenomenon is explained consistent to the concepts but with misconceptions.

Activity 6.1. It really Hertz!

 How Heinrich Hertz Discovered Radio Waves

Visible light is only one of the seven electromagnetic (EM) waves. Another type of EM wave is
the radio wave which is widely used for communication and transmission of information regardless
the distance of the sender and receiver. Radio waves are naturally created by astronomical bodies
or lightning but can also be created artificially to serve its purpose. In 1865, James Clerk Maxwell
published his theory about EM waves. According to Maxwell’s theory, EM waves move at the speed
of light, c = 3 x 108 m/s, and is created by oscillating electric and magnetic fields moving
perpendicular to each other, in which a changing electric field yields changing magnetic field and
vice versa. The first person to succeed was Heinrich Rudolf Hertz. In 1886, Hertz was able to create
the first man-made radio wave by using induction coil, Leyden jar as a condenser and a spark gap.

https://www.famousscientists.orghow-hertz-discovered-radio-waves

Figure 3. Hertz’ set-up. The poles of the spark gap are made up of two 2-cm radius spheres. The picture above depicts
the image of Hertz’ set-up

 Hertz' First Transmission of Radio Waves

Inducing high voltage to the induction coil caused a spark discharge between the spark gaps.
Relating this to Maxwell’s theory, where changing electric fields or magnetic fields will produce EM
waves, Hertz thought that whenever a spark is produced, EM waves will be transmitted. To check
if this was true, he created a receiver made of looped copper wire whose ends were made of small
knobs with small gaps in between. He ran the experiment again and saw that a spark was
produced at the receiver loop, which means that EM waves were transmitted. His experiment was
the first transmission and reception of radio waves.

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  The Speed of Electromagnetic Waves

To calculate the speed of the EM waves, Hertz performed another experiment that aimed the
radiation into a wide metal sheet. A standing wave was formed from which he was able to measure
the distance between nodes which served as the wavelength (λ) of the EM wave while the frequency
(f) was calculated from the frequency of the oscillator. From these two quantities, Hertz was able
to calculate the speed of the EM wave (v=λf). The speed of the EM wave was equivalent to the speed
of light which served as a proof of Maxwell’s theory. The frequency of a wave, which is the number
of cycles created in a unit of time, was named hertz, in honor of his name.

What you need:

1/2 crosswise paper & pen

What to do: Fill in the missing words by choosing from the choices in the parentheses.

According to Maxwell’s theory, a 1. _______ (changing, constant) electric field or magnetic field
will produce electromagnetic waves. These waves propagate at a speed 2. ______ (greater, equal)
to the speed of light. To check if Maxwell’s theory was true, Hertz created a receiver made of looped
3. _________ (iron wire, copper wire) whose ends were made of small knobs with small gaps in
between. He thought that electromagnetic waves were transmitted when there was a 4. _______
(spark, sound) produced at the receiver loop. He then calculated the speed of the EM waves by
measuring its 5. __________ (speed and period, wavelength and frequency).

Activity 6.2. Tell Me Where It Hertz!

What you need:

1/2 crosswise paper & pen

What to do: Read the paragraph written below then examine the set-up that Hertz used to do
his experiment. Copy the figure in your answer sheet and label the parts of the set up. Choose
your answer from the words in the box given below.

In November 1886 Hertz put together his spark-gap transmitter, which he hoped would
transmit electromagnetic waves. At the ends of his set up are two hollow zinc spheres of diameter
30 cm which are 3 m apart. These act as capacitors. 2 mm thick copper wire is run from the
spheres into the middle, where there is a spark-gap. Today we would describe this oscillator as a
half-wave dipole antenna.

Copper wire Spark gap Capacitor 1 Capacitor 2

1. 4.

2. 3.

https://www.famousscientists.org/how-hertz-discovered-radio-waves/

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 Reflection

Give practical applications of light and light phenomena in rea-life situation. Write your 5-sentence
answer in a separate sheet of paper.

Rubric for Scoring

3 – Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, and has no
misconception.
2 - Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts but with
minimal misconception.
1 – Practical application is explained consistent to the concepts but with misconceptions.

REFERENCES

Punzalan, Jervie. M., Richard C. Monserrat, Physical Science in Today’s World, Quezon City: Sibs
Publishing House, 2016.

“Color Filters”, accessed last November 7, 2020,

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Color-Filters-Light-Assignment

“Why are skies blue? and “Why are sunsets red? “, accessed last November 8, 2020,
www.physicsclassroom.com

“Cloud”, accessed last November 10, 2020, nationalgeographic.org

“How Heinrich Hertz discovered radio waves”,accessed last November 6, 2020,

https://www.famousscientists.org/how-hertz-discovered-radio-waves/

“Hertz’s Experiment”, Youtube Channel Media Smarts, accessed last May 22, 2020, you
tube.com/watch?v=A5mxwBABgDs

“Hertz’s Experiment on Electromagnetic Waves”, You tube Channel Media Smarts, accessed last
June 8, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gDFll6Ge7g

“How Heinrich Hertz discovered Radio Waves-Famous Scientist”, accessed last May 22, 2020,
https://www.famousscientists.orghow-hertz-discovered-radio-waves

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email address: lanelyn.alonsagay001@deped.gov.ph
10 Division: Agusan del Norte
School/Station: Magallanes National High School
Author: Lanelyn C. Alonsagay
Answer Key
Activity 1. Spoon The Difference!
Part of the Spoon Size of Image Orientation of Image
Inner Surface Diminished Upside Down/Inverted
Backside of the spoon Enlarged Upright
1. smaller
2. it slowly became smaller
3. larger
4. concave mirror, convex mirror
Activity 2. Now You See It! Now You Don’t!
1. It occurs when a light ray, for example, that travels through the air passes from this to another
medium, such as water, there is a change in its speed and direction.
2. refraction
3. because Dora might have thought that there is water ahead of her hindering her path
Activity 3. Color Pass!
Table 2. Color Result
Cellophane Colored Paper
Red Green Blue Yellow
Red Red Black Black Invisible
Green Red Green Black Yellow
Blue Black Green Blue Green
Guide Questions:
1. Other colors are absorbed and the same color is reflected.
2. Colors that are reflected are those colors that were not absorbed. A green color absorbs other colors and
reflects green and so with red, blue and other colors.
Activity 4. Hello HalOwS!
Guide Questions:
1. B. Light refracts upon passing through the ice crystals and also reflects upon hitting the crystal’s
faces.
2. D. Refraction
3. Primary rainbow is formed when light hits a raindrop, refracted and single reflection happens
inside the raindrop. Secondary rainbows are formed when two inner reflections are done instead of
one; this causes the reversal of colors in a secondary rainbow in comparison to a primary rainbow.
4.A
Activity 5. Fleeting Beauty at 20!
Answers may vary
Activity 6.1. It really Hertz!
1. changing
2. equal
3. copper wire
4. spark
5. wavelength and frequency
Activity 6.2. Tell Me Where It Hertz!
4. Capacitor 2
1. Capacitor 1
2. Copper wire 3. Spark gap