Light key words and concepts Flashcards
A material/substance that doesn’t allow any light through is described as being..
opaque
A substance that allows lots of light through so you can clearly see what’s on the other side is ..
transparent
An alternative word to ‘flat’, used to describe a mirror
Plane
Light or sound bouncing off surfaces is said to be..
reflected
True or false: light moves from place to place instantly
False- it takes time to travel, it just travels very fast.
Is light a wave, a force, a type of energy or a stream of particles?
It is a wave, a type of energy and a stream of particles.
How long, in minutes, does it take for light to travel from the sun to the earth?
8.3 minutes
If the angle of incidence between a ray of light and a mirror is 60 degrees, what is the angle of reflection?
60 degrees - the same.
What is the special name for a line drawn at right angles (90 degrees) to a surface/
A ‘normal’
We don’t get a reflection from a wall piece of paper because the scattering of light is specular/diffuse.
Which word correctly completes this sentence?
Diffuse. Specular is ‘straight’ reflection.
What is refraction?
The bending of light when it passes from one substance to another.
What does a convex lens do to beams of light?
It causes them to converge
When watching fireworks, you sometimes see the rockets explode before you hear the bang. Whys is this?
Light travels faster than sound, so you see the explosion before you hear it.
What does ‘luminous’ mean?
It gives out light.
What does ‘translucent’ mean?
Some light passes through but some is diffused so you can’t see clearly through it.
