RHS Physics Unit 10 Review: Light

Which of the following IS NOT a behavior that light waves can undergo when they reach a boundary between two media?

• stopping at the edge of the boundary

• reflection off of the boundary

• transmission into the boundary

• refraction through the boundary

Reflection is to bouncing as refraction is to:

• bending.

• breaking.

• dissipating.

• halting.

This drawing illustrates the ________________________ of a light wave.

• refraction

• reflection

• diffraction

• dispersion

Suppose you shine a laser directly at a mirror so that the laser strikes it perpendicularly. The angle of reflection is 0.5°. What does this tell you about the mirror?

• The mirror’s surface is not perfectly flat. It is angled 0.5° in the location that the laser is striking.

• The incident light ray struck the mirror at a 0.5^o angle.

• 99.5% of the ray transmitted through the mirror while only 0.5% of the ray actually reflected.

• The mirror is cracked and angles upward at 0.5^o.

When a light ray strikes a smooth, flat surface, what is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?

• They are equal.

• The angle of incidence is twice that of the angle of reflection.

• The angle of reflection is twice that of the angle of incidence.

• They combine to add up to 180^o.

In this diagram, which is the angle of incidence?

• Angle A

• Angle B

• Angle C

• Angle D

Humans generate light in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

• True

• False

Light is known to behave in a very predictable manner. If a ray of light could be observed approaching and reflecting off of a flat mirror, then the behavior of the light as it reflects would follow a predictable law known as the law of reflection. Which diagram below illustrates the law of reflection?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Think carefully! Study the diagram. What is the angle of reflection?

• 60^o

• 30^o

• 90^o

• 45^o

Answer explanation

The normal is not shown, but you need to use it to answer the question. If the incident ray is 30° up from the surface, that means it's 60° away from the normal. Then, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Light that is reflected or transmitted through certain media so that all vibrations are restricted to a single plane is called:

• polarized light.

• ambient light.

• direct light.

• indirect light.