Intro to Light Absorption

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Question 1: Will a red object look red under blue light?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. It will look black. Red objects reflect red light. If there is no red light on them, they will reflect no light.  

Will red safety glasses protect against glare from a red laser?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. Safety glasses are a type of filter, and they will transmit light that is whatever color they are.

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NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Will a green transparent object transmit violet light well?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. It will transmit green well but not other colors such as violet. This was the stained glass experiment we demonstrated.

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Does a blue liquid absorb red light?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. We demonstrated this with a laser in blue dish soap.   

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Will red fish appear to have a different color in deeper water versus in shallower water?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Water absorbs (rather than transmits) red light. At deeper levels, there is almost no red light left that can reflect off a red fish and make it appear red. So it will look black.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Can absorbed light energy be converted into heat energy?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Examples are a laser cutter and a black car that gets very hot on a summer day.

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NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Can absorbed light energy be converted into electrical energy?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. This is what solar cells do.

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NGSS.HS-PS3-3

Can absorbed light energy be converted into chemical energy?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. An example is photosynthesis, in which plants make sugar to form stems, leaves and fruit.

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