Properties of Light Pt 2

Which of the following surfaces reflects the most light?

• concrete sidewalk

• tree trunk

• aluminum foil

• yellow cloth

Answer explanation

Although all surfaces reflect some light, the aluminum foil reflects the most light.

The light rays reflect off of the smooth metal surface of the aluminum foil instead of being absorbed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The stem of a flower is put in a glass of water. The stem looks like it is bent at the point where it enters the water.

What causes the stem to look bent?

• The stem bends in the water because water is heavier than air and it breaks the stem as it enters.

• The stem looks like it bends when it enters the water because water makes things look smaller.

• The stem looks like it bends when it enters the water because light travels faster in air than in water.

• It looks this way because plants always bend when they are placed in water.

Answer explanation

The stem looks like it bends when it enters the water because light travels faster in air than in water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A periscope, such as the one shown in the picture below, is a tool that allows a person to see things from a higher point of view.

A periscope works because two mirrors inside it---?

• absorb light.

• reflect light.

• produce light.

• refract light.

Answer explanation

A periscope works by reflecting light off of two mirrors inside it.

Since light is reflected off of the mirrors, a periscope can be used to allow a person to see things from a higher point of view.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Which of the diagrams below best shows how refraction makes a straw look when the straw is sitting in a glass of water?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Refraction is the "bending" of light as the light passes from one medium to another. Light cannot travel as quickly in water as it can in the air.

As a result, the straw appears to be bent or broken at the point where it enters the water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What happens when light is refracted through water from air?

• The light will bend as it passes through.

• The light will pass through the water without a change.

• The light will bounce off the water.

• The light will be soaked up by the water.

Answer explanation

Refracted light is bent light. The light bends because when it travels through air it can move quicker than through the water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A car is driving in the middle of the night, and it is very dark.

Light from the headlights of the car---?

• travels in a curved line.

• travels only to objects that are shiny.

• travels in a circle.

• travels in a straight line.

Answer explanation

Light travels in waves. These waves travel in straight lines away from the light source until they strike something and are absorbed, reflected, or refracted.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A man carrying a torch walks though a jungle on a very dark night. Suddenly, he sees two eyes looking down from a tree that seem to be glowing. Why can the man see them?

• The eyes in the tree are producing their own light.

• Light from the man's eyes is entering the eyes in the tree.

• The eyes in the tree are reflecting light from the torch into the man's eyes.

• The eyes in the tree are making a shadow that the man sees.

Answer explanation

Think about how sometimes people in pictures appear to have red eyes. This is caused by the reflection of the light from the camera's flash on the person's eyeballs. This same phenomenon is described in the question. Light from the torch is being reflected off the animal's eyes in the tree and back into the man's eyes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Light tends to travel in a straight line. What might cause light to stop traveling in a straight line?

• if the light is traveling through water

• if it is very cold out

• if it is very sunny out

• if it strikes another object

Answer explanation

Light will tend to travel in a straight line until it strikes another object or travels from one medium to another.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Barry fixes his tie by looking at it in the mirror.

How does the light coming from Barry's tie reach his eyes?

• It moves in a circle toward his eyes.

• It is refracted off of the mirror.

• It travels straight from his eyes to his tie.

• It is reflected off of the mirror.

Answer explanation

Light bouncing off of Barry's tie is reflected off of the mirror and then travels toward his eyes.Light tends to travel in straight lines until it strikes an object or travels from one medium to another.

In this case, the light from Barry's tie travels in a straight line until it strikes the mirror. The mirror reflects this light, and this allows Barry to see it in the mirror.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Why does the Moon appear to give off a bright white light when it doesn't produce its own light?

• It absorbs light from the Sun and stars.

• It transmits the light of the Sun and stars.

• It reflects the light from the Sun and stars.

• It refracts the light of the Sun and stars.

Answer explanation

The Moon is a solid object that reflects the light from the Sun and stars.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2