Light Waves

What is the correct definition of a wave?

• a type of wave that carries energy from one place to another, even through empty space

• to form a mental picture of something that cannot be seen

• a pattern that describes how energy is carried from one place to another

• the ability to make things move or change

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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 is 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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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

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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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Aniyah has a special type of paper that can permanently change color. She wonders whether light can cause the paper’s color to change. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the paper.

• The infrared light can cause the paper to change color.

• The X-ray light can cause the paper to change color.

• The ultraviolet light can cause the paper to change color.

• Any of these types of light can cause the paper to change color because all light carries energy that can cause materials to change.

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These graphs show the wavelength and amplitude of light coming from three lasers. Could any of these lasers be giving off different types 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.

• Yes. Laser 3 is giving off a different type of light because Laser 3 has a different wavelength than Lasers 1 and 2.

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

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

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Shanika has some red marbles. She notices that sometimes the marbles get warm after being exposed to light. She wonders what type of light can cause the marbles to get warm. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the marbles. X-ray light: Transmitted through the marbles Infrared light: Absorbed by the marbles Red light: Reflected off the marbles Based on this information, which of these types of light can cause the marbles to get warm?

• The X-ray light can cause the marbles to get warm.

• The infrared light can cause the marbles to get warm.

• The red light can cause the marbles to get warm.

• Any of these types of light can cause the marbles to get warm, because all light carries energy that can cause materials to change.

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Khaled is learning about a new kind of metal made by NASA. He is curious about whether light can cause changes to this new metal. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the metal. Based on this information, can light cause changes to the metal?

• There is no way to know whether the metal will change.

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

• Yes, but the metal 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 metal 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.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

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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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Maya wonders which types of light could heat up a sheet of aluminum. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the 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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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.