Light It Up (Ray Diagrams & Light Behavior)
How does light travel?
Light travels in straight lines called rays until it interacts with a surface. Pg: 190
What is the law of reflection?
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection when light hits a surface. Pg: 196
What is refraction?
Refraction is the bending of light when it passes from one material to another, like air to water. Pg: 201
What simple optical device helps us see small details?
Magnifying glass, Microscope. Pg: 182
What happens to light when it hits a transparent material?
Light passes through it with little or no scattering. Pg: 191
What is a ray diagram used for?
A ray diagram shows how light travels and reflects or refracts when it interacts with surfaces. Pg: 190
What type of surface gives clear reflections?
A smooth, shiny surface like a mirror reflects light evenly, making a clear image. Pg: 193
What is a convex lens?
A convex lens is thicker in the middle; it converges (focuses) light to a point. Pg: 205
What is the main purpose of a telescope?
A telescope gathers and magnifies light to see distant objects like stars. Pg: 183
What type of shadow is made when light is fully blocked?
A dark, solid shadow is formed. Pg: 190
What happens to light when it moves from air into water?
Light slows down and bends toward the normal because water is denser. Pg: 201
What is a concave mirror, and what is its focal point?
A concave mirror curves inward; parallel rays reflect to meet at the focal point. Pg: 197
What is a concave lens?
A concave lens is thinner in the middle; it diverges (spreads out) light. Pg: 204
What part of the eye focuses light onto the retina?
The lens focuses light so it forms a clear image on the retina. Pg: 183
What is the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque materials?
Transparent lets most light through, translucent scatters light, and opaque blocks light. Pg: 191
Why do we draw multiple rays in a ray diagram?
They show how light reflects or refracts at different angles, helping predict image formation. Pg: 190
What happens when light hits a convex mirror?
Light rays spread out (diverge), creating a smaller, wider image. Pg: 199
How does a material’s refractive index affect light?
A higher refractive index bends light more because light slows down more in denser materials. Pg: 203
Who invented the first microscope?
Hans and Zacharias Jansen built the first microscope in the late 1500s. Pg: 182
What is an example of light being absorbed?
A black shirt absorbs sunlight and converts it into heat. Pg: 191
Why are ray diagrams important for making optical devices?
They predict how light behaves, helping design glasses, cameras, and telescopes. Pg: 190
How does the image in a concave mirror change with distance?
Close to the mirror = upright and magnified; far away = inverted and smaller. Pg: 198
How does a magnifying glass work?
It uses a convex lens to converge light, making objects appear larger when close. Pg: 205
How do optical devices improve our lives?
They help us see clearly (glasses), view tiny things (microscopes), and see far (telescopes). Pg: 183
What is the normal line in reflection?
An imaginary line at 90° to the surface, used to measure angles of incidence and reflection. Pg: 196