💡Refraction, Reflection, Absorption
What happens to a beam of light when it bounces off a smooth mirror?
Light will reflect off of the mirror.
What type of materials absorb sound? Give an example.
Soft materials. Examples: pillows, blankets, cushions, etc.
Which type of material lets almost all light pass through so you can see clearly through it?
Transparent
Why does a red apple look red? Use reflection and absorption in your answer.
Red is reflected and all the other colors on the light spectrum are absorbed by the apple.
Which has a higher pitch: a fast-vibrating string or a slow-vibrating string?
What is refraction? Give a simple example of refraction.
Refraction is when light bend. Examples: pencil in cup, prism, rainbow, etc.
What type of materials reflect sound? Give examples.
Hard materials. Examples: wall, table, floor, etc.
Which material is best described as translucent?
A) Clear window glass
B) Wax paper
C) Aluminum foil
D) A shiny mirror
B) Wax paper
If white light passes through a prism, what happens to the light and why?
The light bends (refracts) through the prism and creates a rainbow.
Give an everyday example of a high-pitched sound and an everyday example of a low-pitched sound.
*accept correct answers*
Explain how absorption affects the temperature of an object when light hits it. What color materials absorb heat?
When light is absorbed the temperature becomes hot. Dark color materials absorb heat.
Describe what happens to sound when it hits a hard wall and when it passes from air into water.
When sound hits a hard wall it reflects sound. When sound passes from air into water it refracts the sound.
A student needs to pick a material for a classroom privacy curtain that still lets in some daylight. Which type (transparent, translucent, or opaque) should they choose and why?
A translucent material because it will let a little bit of light in, but still give privacy.
True/False: Blue light has a different wavelength than red light.
True
Explain how the length or thickness of a vibrating object (like a guitar string) affects pitch.
A long string that vibrates slow will produce a low pitch and a short string that vibrates fast will create a high pitch.
A flashlight beam shines on a shiny metal spoon and also on a black T‑shirt. Predict and explain which will reflect more light and which will absorb more light.
A shiny metal spoon will reflect the light because it is shiny. A black T-shirt will absorb the light because it is a dark color.
Explain how absorption of sound by soft materials (like curtains or carpet) affects the loudness you hear in a room.
It will reduce volume/loudness of the sound in the room.
True/False (explain): A material that is painted white is always more translucent than the same material painted black.
True because an object painted black would be opaque.
Describe what happens to light when it hits a white surface and when it hits a black surface. Use the words reflect and absorb.
White light reflects all of the colors and black light absorbs all of the colors.
A child tightens a drumhead, causing its vibration rate to increase. Explain how the pitch changes and why.
The pitch will become higher because the vibrations are moving faster.
When light slows down entering a denser material, it usually:
A) Speeds up and bends away from the normal
B) Slows down and bends toward the normal
C) Stops completely
D) Changes color
B) Slows down and bends toward the normal
Two identical rooms are the same size. Room A has bare wooden floors and painted walls. Room B has thick carpets and heavy curtains. If a speaker plays the same song at the same volume in both rooms, which room will seem louder and why? Use the words reflection, absorption, and reverberation.
Room A (wood + painted walls) will seem louder because hard surfaces reflect more sound, producing stronger reflections and more reverberation. Room B’s carpet and curtains absorb sound, reducing reflections and making it quieter and less lively.
For each use below, pick the best type (transparent, translucent, or opaque) and briefly explain your choice:
a) A submarine’s porthole
b) A theater backstage curtain
c) A streetlight cover that prevents glare
B- Opaque so the audience does not see backstage
C- Translucent so only a little light comes through
Match each item to the best description.
a) Prism b) Pigment c) Filter d) Mirror
A-2
B-3
C-4
D-1
A violin and a cello play the same note, but the violin’s sound seems higher. Explain why using the ideas of pitch, size, and vibration.
The violin produces a faster vibration and is a smaller instrument. The cello produces a slower vibrations and is a bigger instrument.