Nature of Light
What is Light?
Light is a form of energy that travels in waves
What happens to light when it hits a mirror?
It reflects off the surface of the mirror.
What is refraction?
Answer: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one material to another.
What happens when light hits a black object?
Answer: A black object absorbs most of the light that hits it
What colors make up white light?
Answer: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Can light travel through space?
Yes, light can travel through space, which is a vacuum.
What is the term for light bouncing off a surface?
Reflection
What happens to a straw in a glass of water?
Answer: It looks like the straw is bent or broken at the surface of the water
What is absorption?
Answer: Absorption is when light is taken in by an object and not reflected or transmitted
What do we call the range of colors in light?
Answer: The spectrum.
What is the speed of light?
186,000 miles per second
Can you name an object that reflects light well?
A mirror or shiny metal.
can you name a tool that uses refraction?
Answer: A pair of glasses or a lens.
Why do we wear light-colored clothes on hot days?
Answer: Light colors reflect more light and keep us cooler than dark colors, which absorb more light.
How do rainbows form?
Answer: Rainbows form when light is refracted, reflected, and dispersed in water droplets.
What do we see when light hits an object?
We see the colors and shapes of the objects that the light reflects off of.
How does the angle of incidence affect reflection?
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
How does light change when it enters water?
Answer: Light slows down and bends when it enters water
Can all materials absorb light?
Answer: No, some materials reflect or transmit light instead of absorbing it
What is a prism?
Answer: A prism is a transparent object that bends and separates light into different colors
What is the difference between natural and artificial light?
What is the difference between natural and artificial light?
What kind of surface reflects light better: rough or smooth?
Smooth surfaces reflect light better than rough surfaces.
What is the index of refraction?
Answer: It is a number that describes how much light bends when it enters a material.
What colors of light are absorbed by a green leaf?
Answer: A green leaf absorbs red and blue light, and reflects green light.
Which color of light has the shortest wavelength?
Answer: Violet has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum