Properties of Light
How does light travel?
Light travels in a straight line.
What are the two types of waves?
Mechanical and Electromagnetic
How do my eyes allow me to see?
Light passes through the pupil, travels to the retina, where electrical signals are sent to the brain.
Name one type of nonvisible light.
Answers may vary.
What happens to light when it reaches an object?
If the object is smooth, light will reflect.
If the object is transparent, light will transmit through the object.
If the object is opaque, light will be absorbed by the object.
Which type of electromagnetic wave has the highest frequency?
Gamma rays
What are the specialized cells that allow us to see color?
Rod and Cone Cells
What do the words, "ultraviolet" and "infrared" mean?
Ultraviolet means "above the violet wavelength", UV rays have a higher frequency than visible violet light.
Infrared means "below the red wavelength", IR light has a lower frequency than visible red light.
Why can I see through some objects but not others?
Some objects, like clear plastic, are transparent and allow light to pass through. Other objects, like a piece of cardboard, are opaque and absorbs light.
Where can waves be found in nature?
water waves, seismic waves (earthquakes)
How are our eyes and cameras similar?
Both the eye and the camera have specialized parts that allow light to pass through an opening, detect the colors in the light, separate and mix those colors to make new colors.
Name the colors that make up white light
100 point bonus:
Name them in order from lowest frequency to highest frequency.
Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet
How can light make a red object look black?
If there was not a red wavelength in white light, we would see red objects as black. This is because when light reaches the object, no red light is reflecting back into our eyes.
What is an echo?
Much like light, sound travels in waves. When an echo occurs, this is due to sound waves reflecting, or bouncing off surfaces.
What happens to your pupils when there is not enough light?
The pupils dilate (grow bigger) to allow as much light as possible to pass through.
Who discovered Infrared light?
William Herschel