Light Interactions: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption

What is the process called when light bounces off the surface of an object, such as a mirror or glass?

• Reflection

• Absorption

• Transmission

• Refraction

When light passes through a transparent material like a window, what is this process called?

• Reflection

• Absorption

• Transmission

• Diffusion

If light is absorbed by your skin, what happens to the particles in your skin?

• They lose energy and cool down

• They start to move more and gain kinetic energy

• They become transparent

• They reflect the light back

Explain how the type of light and the movement of particles before light shines on them determine whether light is reflected, transmitted, or absorbed.

• If the light matches the particle's movement, energy is transferred and absorbed; otherwise, it is reflected or transmitted.

• All light is always absorbed by all materials.

• Only transparent materials can reflect light.

• The color of the light is the only factor that matters.

What happens to the kinetic energy of particles in matter after the light stops shining on it?

• The kinetic energy stays the same forever

• The kinetic energy increases even more

• The kinetic energy of the particles will go back to normal

• The particles disappear

Which of the following best describes the purpose of using different line styles (solid, dashed, dotted) in the key provided for drawing diagrams of light?

• To show the direction and amount of light interacting with materials

• To make the diagram look more colorful

• To indicate the temperature of the materials

• To show the size of the cups

Why does soda in an aluminum can stay cooler for longer than soda in a clear plastic cup, based on the information provided?

• The aluminum can reflects more light, reducing heat transfer to the soda

• The clear plastic cup absorbs all the light, making the soda colder

• The aluminum can lets all the light pass through to the soda

• The clear plastic cup reflects all the light away from the soda

If you were to draw a diagram of light shining on a wall of a cup made from a reflective material, which symbol from the key would you use to show the light bouncing off?

• The symbol labeled "Reflective"

• The symbol labeled "Transmissive"

• The symbol labeled "Absorptive"

• The symbol labeled "Absorbed light"

Suppose you are given three cups: one made of metal, one of clear plastic, and one of colored plastic. How would you expect the light to behave differently when it shines on each cup, based on the conventions from the key?

• The metal cup would reflect most light, the clear plastic would transmit most light, and the colored plastic would absorb some light.

• All cups would reflect the same amount of light.

• The clear plastic would absorb all the light, while the metal and colored plastic would transmit it.

• The colored plastic would reflect all the light, and the metal would absorb it.

Using the key, how would you model the energy transfer to particles when light is absorbed by the wall of a cup?

• By using the symbol for "Energy transfer to a particle = more kinetic energy"

• By using the symbol for "Reflective"

• By using the symbol for "Transmissive"

• By using the symbol for "All light"