Light Waves Test

Alex has a type of rock called calcite that sometimes glows. He puts the calcite under a desk lamp but the calcite does not glow. Then he puts it under an ultraviolet lamp and the calcite glows. Why does ultraviolet light make the calcite glow when light from the desk lamp does not?

Because calcite can take in energy from ultraviolet light, but not the from the light from the desk lamp.

Alina notices that when she shines a desk lamp on a mirror, nothing happens. When she shines an infrared lamp on the mirror, the mirror starts to get warmer. Why does light from the infrared lamp warm the mirror when light from the desk lamp does not?

Because the infrared lamp gives off a type of light that the desk lamp does not, and the mirror can only take in the energy from the infrared light.

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. Based on this information, which of these types of light can cause the marbles to get warm?

The infrared light can cause the marbles to get warm.

Light can behave as both a ________ and a __________.

wave; particle

What characteristic of light determines what color it appears?

wavelength

Can sound waves travel through space?

no, there is no air or other matter for them to travel through

Omar has a piece of rock called quartz. He wonders whether light can cause the quartz to become warm. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the quartz.Based on this information, which type of light is more likely to cause the quartz to become warm?

Neither type of light can cause the quartz to become warm, because the quartz does not take in energy from either the infrared light or the visible light.

Shonda is learning about a new kind of material that might be used to make new satellites, and she wonders if light can damage the material. The table below shows what happens when different types of light hit the material.Based on this information, which type of light is more likely to damage the material?

Neither type of light is likely to damage the material, because the material does not take in energy from either the X-ray light or the gamma ray light.

Kayla wonders if lasers will be able to cut a hole in a piece of silicone, which is a change that requires energy. The table below shows what happens when different types light from lasers hit the silicone.

The carbon dioxide laser can cut a hole in the silicone.

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 ultraviolet light can cause the paper to change color.

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

Your friend says that she heard about a special type of ink that is only visible when it is out in the sun. Can light from the sun cause this ink to become visible?

Yes. The ink can take in energy from the light, causing it to become visible.

If a car sits out in the sun every day for a long time, can light from the sun damage the car's paint?

Yes. The paint can take in energy from the light, causing it to be damaged.

Blue light bends more than red light when it passes through glass. Thus, blue light has a greater:

angle of refraction

Light refracts when it

changes speed

A beam of light bends when it passes from air into water, and then bends even more when it passes from water into glass. What can you conclude from this fact?

glass is denser than water

When you look at a person's face, how can you see it?

light reflects off the person's face

Why does refraction occur?

light travels through different materials at different speeds

What do the colored lines on the diagram represent?

light waves of different wavelengths

What is the main difference between refraction and diffraction?

refraction involves the bending of light; diffraction involves the bending and spreading of light, usually around an obstacle

How does a fiber-optic cable send information quickly over long distances?

signals are sent at the speed of light by reflecting light through the cables

Why might an albino alligator's skin affect its ability to regulate its body temperature?

the albino skin will not be able to absorb light to get warm

Why does white light from the sun form a colorful rainbow when it passes through water droplets in the atmosphere?

the colors that make up white light refract at different angles

Why are you able to see a blue sky?

the particles in the atmosphere absorbs red and green light and reflect blue light