Light Energy

Light travels in straight lines…

until it is reflected (bounced) off of an object…

or refracted by traveling through another object.

Light does not curve. During reflection and refraction the light either bounces off or bends at an angle, and then

continues traveling in a straight line.

Tell whether the following diagrams represent reflection or refraction. Explain how you know.

Reflection; The light is bouncing off the object, not passing through the object.

Refraction; The light is passing through an object and changing its direction.

Reflection; The light is not traveling through an object. It is bouncing off the object.

It’s QUIZ time!!!

• An image can be seen in a shiny surface when light is –

A reflected

B refracted

C absorbed

D stopped

A ~ reflected

• The picture shows what a student observed when she looked through a hand lens at a bee. When light passes through a hand lens it is ___________, thus making the image appear larger.

A absorbed C refracted

B reflected D stopped

C ~ refracted

• The illustration shows a light ray striking an object. In the illustration, the light is -

A absorbed

B stopped

C reflected

D refracted

C ~ reflected

• Which of the following objects would reflect the most light?

A A piece of red construction paper

B A dark brown carpet square

C A smooth, black-topped table

D A flat sheet of aluminum foil

D ~ A flat sheet of aluminum foil

A student placed a pencil in a glass of water. The pencil appears broken because light –

A always travels in a straight line.

B makes the water in the glass evaporate.

C bends when it passes through water.

D reflects the pencil on the water’s surface.

C ~ bends when it passes through water.