Stars and Planets
Light and Reflection-1
Light and Refraction-2
Transparent, Translucent, or Opaque
Models and Tools
100
Why do stars look like they stay in the same pattern, while planets move?
Stars are so far away that their position changes are hard to notice.
100
What happens when light hits a mirror?
It reflects at the same angle it hits the mirror.
100
What happens when light passes through a prism?
It bends and separates into colors (refraction).
100
What does it mean if an object is transparent?
Light passes through it completely (like glass).
100
What is one limitation of a solar system model made with balls?
It doesn’t show accurate distances between planets.
200
What is one major difference between a planet and a star?
Stars make their own light; planets reflect light.
200
What is reflection?
When light bounces off a surface.
200
What is refraction?
The bending of light as it moves through different materials.
200
What does translucent mean?
Some light passes through, but not all (like a lampshade).
200
Why do scientists use models of the solar system?
To help visualize things that are too big or far away to study directly.
300
Why does Venus look brighter than Polaris in the sky?
Venus is closer to Earth and reflects more sunlight.
300
What kind of surfaces reflect light best?
Smooth, shiny surfaces like mirrors or metal.
300
What everyday object shows refraction in action?
A straw that looks bent in a glass of water.
300
What does opaque mean?
No light passes through (like a wall).
300
What tool helps us see distant stars and planets?
A telescope.
400
What causes the different phases of the moon we see?
The moon’s position changes relative to Earth and the Sun.
400
Why can you see yourself in a mirror but not in a wall?
A mirror reflects light clearly; walls scatter light.
400
How is refraction different from reflection?
Reflection bounces light; refraction bends light.
400
Which object is transparent: a window or a fence?
A window.
400
Why can’t microscopes help us study planets?
They are for tiny, close objects—not faraway ones.
500
Why do some stars appear brighter even if they are not the biggest?
They might be closer to Earth or have a higher temperature.
500
How does a periscope use light?
It uses mirrors to reflect light so you can see around corners.
500
Why do rainbows form after rain?
Sunlight is refracted and separated by water droplets in the air.
500
Classify these: lamp shade, fence, ice cube, and window.
Lamp shade & ice cube = translucent; window = transparent; fence = opaque.
500
Why can’t we make a true-to-scale model of the solar system?
The distances between objects are too large compared to their sizes.