Light (STAAR released questions)

Several beams of light are shown in the picture.

What does the picture demonstrate about light? (which statement is true?)

• Light travels in straight lines.

• Light cannot reflect from more than one surface.

• Light can curve through objects.

• Light can curve around objects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Some students are feeding a crab in an aquarium. They use tongs to place the food directly in front of the crab.

The students look through the side of the aquarium. They notice that the image of the tongs appears to break as the tongs enter the water. Which property of light are the students observing in this situation?

• Light can be refracted and separated into different colors as it moves from air to a different medium.

• Light is refracted as it moves from one medium to another medium.

• Light travels in a straight line and can be reflected off the surface of the water.

• Light is absorbed by water and reflected off glass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A student conducts an investigation by shining a flashlight toward a flat mirror. The student changes the angle of the mirror and observes the path of the reflected light.

As the mirror changes position, the light can reach the ceiling because the light -

• travels in straight lines and reflects from the surface of the mirror.

• refracts in the glass of the mirror and is spread out all over the room.

• enters the mirror and changes direction when it is refracted by the back of the mirror.

• travels through the air and glass and does not change its direction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

This photograph shows a girl using a lab instrument (a hand lens) during an investigation. The teacher asks the other students in the class to look carefully at the girl's eye and give reasons for its appearance.

Which table correctly identifies the reasons for the appearance of the girl's eye through the lab instrument?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The picture shows an area of Yosemite National Park. Which statement about light is supported by this picture?

• Light travels in straight lines until it enters a different material like water in a lake.

• Light can refract in air and in clear water.

• The water in the lake is blue because light forms an image.

• Light is reflected off the smooth surface of the lake.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Lasers produce a beam of light that can be focused on a small area. A teacher uses two mirrors to shine a beam of light from a laser into a box. Which diagram shows how the teacher should position the two mirrors? (Pick the one where light will travel from the laser to the first mirror, to the second mirror, and then to the box.)

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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A teacher takes the top and side off a box. She cuts a hole in another side and puts a candle outside the box, as show below.

When the teacher lights the candle in a dark room, some of the candlelight shines through the hole. Which diagram best shows how the light appears on the inside wall of the box?

(Remember, the light will travel in a straight line from the flame, through the hole, and then onto the inner wall of the box)

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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A student LOOKS INTO A MIRROR and sees an image of an object. Which diagram shows an X where the object is most likely located so that the student is able to see the object when looking into the mirror?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The diagram shows a fish being viewed from above the water.

The fish appears (looks) to be closer to the surface than it really is. What causes this difference?

• Light is reflected.

• Light is refracted.

• Light is focused.

• Light is blocked.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

In 1859, Henry Bursill published a book of hand shadows. The picture below shows one of these hand shadows.

Which property of light makes it possible to produce hand shadows?

• Light can be refracted as it passes through various materials.

• Light is a form of energy.

• Light travels in straight lines and is blocked by opaque objects.

• Light can be separated into different colors when it passes through a prism.