Light Waves End of Unit Assessment

1. 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?

• No. Light is not a physical thing, so it cannot change physical things like rugs.

• No. Light can only change things by warming them up, so it cannot cause the rug’s color to fade.

• Yes. The rug can take in energy from the light, causing the rug’s color to fade.

• Yes. Light from the sun can pull energy out of the rug, causing the rug's color to fade.

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2. Malachi uses some glue to fix a broken plate. He puts the glue under a desk lamp but the glue doesn’t dry. Then he puts the glue out in the sun and it dries. Why does light from the sun dry the glue when light from the desk lamp does not?

• Because the glue can take in energy from the light from the sun, but not from the light from the lamp.

• Because light from the sun pulls energy out of the glue and light from the desk lamp does not.

• Because the sun gives off a type of light that carries energy, and light from the desk lamp does not.

• Because light from the sun carries heat molecules, and light from the desk lamp does not.

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3. Based on this information, which type of light is more likely to heat up the sheet of aluminum?

• The X-ray light is more likely to heat up the aluminum because the X-ray light can pull energy out of the aluminum when it passes through the aluminum.  

• The ultraviolet light is more likely to heat up the aluminum because the ultraviolet light bounces off the aluminum, which means that it has more energy.

• There is no way to know because they are two different types of light, and different types of light can change a material in different ways.  

• 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.

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4. 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.

• Yes. Laser 3 could be giving off a different type of light because Laser 3 has a different amplitude than Lasers 1 and 2.

• Yes. All three lasers must be giving off different types of light because every light source gives off its own type of light.

• No. All three lasers must be giving off the same type of light because all three are lasers, and the same kind of light source gives off the same type of light.

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5. 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?

• No. Light is not a physical thing, so it cannot change physical things like nail polish.

• Yes. Light from the sun can pull energy out of the nail polish, causing it to change color.

• Yes. The nail polish can take in energy from the light, causing it to change color.

• No. Light can only change things by warming them up, so it cannot cause the nail polish to change color.

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6. 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 ultraviolet light carries energy, and 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.

• Because ultraviolet light pulls energy out of the filling material, and light from the lamp does not.

• Because ultraviolet light carries hardening molecules, but light from the lamp does not.

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7. 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. Based on this information, which type of light is more likely to dry out the sunscreen?

• The ultraviolet light is more likely to dry out the sunscreen because the ultraviolet light bounces off of the sunscreen, which means that it has more energy.  

• The X-ray light is more likely to dry out the sunscreen because the X-ray light can pull energy out of the sunscreen when it passes through the sunscreen.  

• There is no way to know because they are two different types of light, and different types of light can change a material in different ways.

• 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.

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8. 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, but the mystery material can change in only one way, such as by getting warm, because all the light that a material absorbs will affect that material in the same way.

• 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.

• No. The mystery material can’t change because light is not a physical thing. Light cannot change physical things like the mystery material.

• There is no way to know whether the mystery material will change or not.

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9. 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.

• Yes. Light can pull energy out of Jayden’s teeth, causing them to become whiter.

• No. Light can only change things by warming them up, so it cannot cause Jayden’s teeth to become whiter.

• No. Light is not a physical thing, so it cannot change physical things like teeth.

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10. 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.

• Because light from the sun carries heat molecules, and light from the desk lamp does not.

• Because light from the sun pulls energy out of the plastic, and light from the desk lamp does not.

• Because the sun gives off a type of light that carries energy, and light from the desk lamp does not.

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