How Light Interacts
What 3 things can happen when light shines on a surface?
Light can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through the surface.
What is a one-way mirror?
A mirror that reflects light on one side and is transparent on the other side.
What do sensory receptors do?
They respond to stimuli and send signals to the brain.
What is the path light typically travels?
In straight lines.
What is the term for light bending as it passes from one medium to another?
Refraction
How can you demonstrate the operation of a one-way mirror?
By using two boxes with a one-way mirror between them and varying light on each side
Which sense is primarily involved in detecting light?
Vision, through the eyes.
What happens when light encounters a rough surface?
It scatters, leading to a diffused reflection.
What do we call materials that allow light to pass through?
Transparent
Why might a one-way mirror be used in interrogation rooms?
To allow observers to see into the room without being seen.
How do signals from sensory receptors reach the brain?
Through nerve cells that transmit the signals.
How does the frequency of light affect how it is perceived?
Different frequencies correspond to different colors; higher frequencies are perceived as blue and lower as red.
How does the color of an object affect how it interacts with light?
Different colors absorb and reflect light differently, affecting how we perceive the color.
What happens to the visibility of a one-way mirror when the light conditions change?
If the light is brighter on one side, that side acts like a mirror; if it's darker, it acts like a window.
What role does the optic nerve play in vision?
It carries visual information from the retina to the brain.
What is the relationship between light intensity and the distance from the source?
The intensity of light decreases as the distance from the source increases.
Explain how a one-way mirror allows us to see through it from one side but not the other.
A one-way mirror reflects more light on one side than it transmits, making it appear like a mirror from one side and a window from the other.
Describe how students can model a one-way mirror using a box.
By building a scaled box model with a one-way mirror and observing how light interacts on both sides.
Explain how different light levels affect the signals sent to the brain.
Different amounts of light lead to stronger or weaker signals, impacting the perception of brightness.
How can students gather data on light reflection and transmission?
By using light sensors to measure the amount of light reflected and transmitted by various materials.