6 Thompson-Brooks

Light

Science

Answer the following questions

1. What happens when light hits a shiny or smooth surface?

a. it disappears

b. it is refracted

c. it is absorbed

d. it is reflected

2. What might explain why light travels in a straight line?

a. if there is nothing to interfere with light waves, they should travel in a straight
line

b. light waves will always travel in a straight line, even if they could come into
contact with another object

c. light waves don’t travel in a straight line

d. light waves travel in a straight line because sound waves travel in a straight
line

3. What is it called when light bends as it moves from one substance to another?

a. absorption

b. reflection

c. refraction

d. incidence

4. Why doesn’t the surface of a wooden boat reflect light as the surface of water does?

a. because the boat’s surface is rough and absorbs more light

 b. because the surface of the boat is red, not blue

c. because the boat is not a natural object like the water is

d. because the boat is on top of the water’s surface

5. When you look into a mirror, what is happening to the light?

a. it is increasing in wavelengths

b. it is being refracted

c. it is being absorbed

d. it is being reflected

6. In two or more sentences, distinguish between refraction and reflection.

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7. If a light containing both blue and red wavelengths of light is shined on a white piece of
paper, what color (or colors) of light will bounces off the paper? What color does the paper
appear? Explain in complete sentences.

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8. Knowing what you do about refraction can you provide instructions to a person who is just
learning how to spear fish from a riverbank? _________________________________________

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