Light Phenomena

Learning Targets

Differentiate dispersion, scattering,
interference, and diffraction

Explain various light phenomena such as:
A. Your reflection on the concave and
convex sides of a spoon looks different
B. Mirages
C. Light from a red laser passes more easily
though red cellophane than green
cellophane
D. Clothing of certain colors appear
different in artificial light and in sunlight
E. Haloes, sundogs, primary rainbows,
secondary rainbows, and supernumerary
bows
F. Why clouds are usually white and
rainclouds dark
 G. Why the sky is blue and sunsets are
reddish

Multiple Choice

What is the speed of light?

• 1,000,000 meters per minute
• 300,000,000 meters per second

• 500 kilometers per second
• 100 miles per hour

Multiple Choice

This describes the ability of light to bounce against particles for it to spread out.

• Dispersion
• Refraction
• Scattering

• Reflection

Multiple Choice

This describes the ability of light to bend and spread out into many different colors.

• Dispersion
• Refraction
• Scattering

• Reflection

Multiple Choice

What type of light phenomenon does this show?

• dispersion

• scattering

• reflection

• resonance

Multiple Choice

What type of light property is this?

• dispersion

• scattering

• reflection

• resonance

Multiple Choice

When looking at a ripe banana, we see yellow. What colors does it absorb?

• ROGBIV

• Yellow

• RGBIV

• ROYGBIV

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of mirror that generates different images?

• Square and round mirrors
• Blue and red mirrors
• Small and large mirrors
• Concave and convex mirrors

Multiple Choice

What do you call the light phenomenon where hot temperatures cause air to appear water-like?

• Reflection

• Mirage
• Laser

• Earthquake

Multiple Choice

Blue cellophane will allow what color to pass best?

• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Blue

Multiple Choice

What color clothing is best to wear for hot sunny days?

• Black clothing
• Dark-colored clothing
• Thick woolen clothing
• White-colored clothing

Multiple Choice

What do you call the ring around the sun and/or moon caused by ice crystals refracting light?

• rainbow
• sundogs

• hurricane
• halo

Multiple Choice

What do you call the patch of light beside the sun caused by excessive ice crystals refracting light?

• rainbow
• sundogs

• hurricane
• halo

Multiple Choice

Which rainbow has red inside and violet outside?

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

• Supernumerary

Multiple Choice

Which rainbow has red outside and violet inside?

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

• Supernumerary

Multiple Choice

True or False: Rainclouds are denser and pack more water than white clouds.

• Depends on the time of day
• Partly true
• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Which color has the longest wavelength?

• Green
• Blue
• Yellow
• Red

Multiple Choice

Which color has the shortest wavelength?

• violet
• yellow
• red
• green