Light: reflection & refraction

How we see, reflection from surfaces, refraction, prisms, colours, and how eyes work

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
How do we see objects? A) Light reflects off objects and enters our eyes B) Our eyes send out light beams that hit objects C) Objects send out their own light to our eyes D) We see objects because air carries images to us
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2
True or false? Light travels in straight lines. A) True B) False
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3
True or false? A prism splits white light into colours because white light is made up of all the colours of the rainbow. A) True B) False
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4
Complete the sentence about shadows. Shadows form because light cannot pass through ___ objects, so a dark area appears on the other side.
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5
When light hits a mirror, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. What does this mean? A) Light bounces off at the same angle it hits the surface B) Light stops when it hits the mirror C) Light passes straight through the mirror D) Light always bounces straight back the way it came
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6
Complete the sentence about refraction. Refraction is the bending of light when it passes from one ___ to another, such as from air into water.
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7
Why does a straw in a glass of water appear to be bent or broken at the surface? A) Light refracts (bends) as it passes from water to air B) The water magnifies the straw C) The glass distorts the straw D) The straw actually bends in water
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8
A room has only red light. What colour would a blue object appear? A) Black (very dark) B) Blue C) Red D) Purple
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9
True or false? Light travels much faster than sound. A) True B) False
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10
Why do we see black objects as black? A) They absorb most light and reflect very little B) They make their own black light C) They are made of glass D) They give out heat
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Answer key

Light: reflection & refraction · for parents and teachers

1
Light reflects off objects and enters our eyes
We see objects because light from a source (like the Sun or a lamp) reflects off the object and enters our eyes. Without light, we cannot see anything.
2
True
Light travels in straight lines (rays). This is why shadows have sharp edges and why you cannot see around corners. It is also why a beam of torchlight appears straight.
3
True
White light is a mixture of all colours (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). A prism refracts each colour by a slightly different amount, splitting the light into a spectrum.
4
opaque
Opaque objects block light completely, creating shadows behind them. Transparent objects let light through (no shadow), and translucent objects let some light through (faint shadow).
5
Light bounces off at the same angle it hits the surface
The law of reflection states that light reflects at the same angle it hits a surface. If light hits a mirror at 30 degrees, it bounces off at 30 degrees on the other side.
6
medium
Refraction occurs when light changes speed as it passes from one medium (material) to another. For example, light slows down in water compared to air, causing it to bend.
7
Light refracts (bends) as it passes from water to air
Light from the submerged part of the straw bends (refracts) as it passes from water into air. Our brain assumes light travels in straight lines, so the straw appears bent.
8
Black (very dark)
A blue object reflects only blue light. In a room with only red light, there is no blue light to reflect, so the object absorbs all the red light and appears black (no light reaches our eyes from it).
9
True
True. Light travels about a million times faster than sound, which is why we see lightning before hearing thunder.
10
They absorb most light and reflect very little
Black objects absorb most light, so very little reflects to our eyes, making them appear dark.