MC Part 1
MC Part 2
MC Part 3
100
A rug sits in a sunny place on the floor for a long time. Kiara thinks that light from the sun can cause the rug’s color to fade over time. Can light from the sun cause the rug’s color to fade?
Yes. The rug can take in energy from the light, causing the rug’s color to fade.
100
Ian wonders if sunscreen lotion will dry out if it is exposed to light. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the sunscreen.
Neither type of light is likely to dry out the sunscreen because the sunscreen does not take in energy from either the ultraviolet light or the X-ray light.
100
These graphs show the wavelength and amplitude of light coming from three lasers. Could any of these lasers be giving off different types of light?
Yes. Laser 3 is giving off a different type of light because Laser 3 has a different wavelength than Lasers 1 and 2.
200
Maya wonders which types of light could heat up a sheet of aluminum. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the aluminum.
Based on this information, which type of light is more likely to heat up the sheet of aluminum?
Neither type of light is likely to heat up the aluminum because the aluminum does not take in energy from either the X-ray light or the ultraviolet light.
200
Ana wonders how light can affect a mystery material. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the mystery material.
Based on this information, can light change the mystery material?
Yes, and the mystery material can change in one or two different ways, such as by getting warm and/or changing color, because different types of light can cause different changes to a material when they are absorbed.
200
Your friend says that he heard about some rocks that would glow when they were put under a certain kind of light. Can light cause rocks to glow?
Yes. Rocks can take in energy from the light, causing them to glow.
300
These graphs show the wavelength and amplitude of light coming from three lasers. Could any of these lasers be giving off a different type of light?
Yes. Laser 2 could be giving off a different type of light because Laser 2 has a different wavelength than Lasers 1 and 3.
300
Jayden says that the dentist can shine a special light on his teeth that will make his teeth become whiter. Can light change Jayden’s teeth?
Yes. Jayden’s teeth can take in energy from the light, causing them to become whiter.
300
Paintings in museums have to be kept away from ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light will cause the paint to fade, but the overhead lamps in a museum won’t cause the paint to fade. Why does the ultraviolet light cause the paint to fade when light from the overhead lamps does not?
Because the paint can take in energy from ultraviolet light but not from the light from the overhead lamps.
400
Your friends say that they saw a special nail polish that changes color when it is out in the sun. Can light from the sun cause the nail polish to change color?
Yes. The nail polish can take in energy from the light, causing it to change color.
400
Wei saw a special type of plastic that would melt and become a liquid when it was placed in the sun, but it would not melt when placed under a desk lamp. Why does light from the sun melt the plastic when light from the desk lamp does not?
Because the plastic can take in energy from the light from the sun but not from the light from the lamp
400
Shanika has some red marbles. She notices that sometimes the marbles get warm after being exposed to light. She wonders what type of light can cause the marbles to get warm. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the marbles.
The infrared light can cause the marbles to get warm.
500
Dentists use a soft, clay-like material to make a filling for a cavity. The filling stays soft under the light of the dentist’s lamp, but it hardens when the dentist shines an ultraviolet flashlight on it. Why does light from the ultraviolet flashlight harden the filling when light from the lamp does not?
Because the filling material can take in energy from ultraviolet light, but not from the light from the lamp.
500
Aniyah has a special type of paper that can permanently change color. She wonders whether light can cause the paper’s color to change. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the paper.
Based on this information, which type of light can cause the paper to change color?
The ultraviolet light can cause the paper to change color.
500
Khaled is learning about a new kind of metal made by NASA. He is curious about whether light can cause changes to this new metal. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the metal.
Based on this information, can light cause changes to the metal?
Yes, and the metal can change in one or two different ways, such as by getting warm and/or changing color, because different types of light can cause different changes to a material when they are absorbed.