NAME ____________________ FORM ________

6E Light
6E-WS1 LUMINESCENT OBJECTS
Aim: Identify luminous objects

Luminescent Object: An object that produces its own light.

Put a circle around the following objects that you think are luminescent objects.

Star
Tree Glow worm Television

Jupiter Fire
Moon Lake

Mirror Clouds
Light Bulb

Glow in the Torch

Sun Camera Flash
dark stars

Did you get any wrong? If you did then say why.

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Did you know......

Some animals can produce their own light. This is called
BIOLUMINESCENCE. It is normally produced by animals that
live in dark environments such as caves, the deep sea or
even just at night.
The Anglerfish has a glowing 'bait'
that it uses to lure in its prey, they live
very deep down in the ocean where
there is no light
6E-WS2 DRAWING LIGHT RAYS
Aim: To be able to correctly draw a scientific light ray

Don't Forget:
• Light rays are always drawn as a straight line with a pencil and ruler.
• They always have one arrow per straight line to show the
direction it is travelling in.
• The light ray always travels away from the light source.
• When a light ray is reflected then the reflected ray must start
at the exact same point as the incident (incoming) ray has
stopped at.

How do we see luminous objects? - Complete the picture

Light Source Observer

How do we see non-luminous objects? - Complete the picture

Light Source Observer

Non-
Non-luminous Object
6E-WS2 DRAWING LIGHT RAYS

How do we see colour?

Fact 1: White light (from a light bulb or Common Mistake!
the sun) is made up of every Light does not travel
colour! out of our eyes! We
Fact 2: The colour of an object is the are not robots with
colour of the light that it reflects laser vision!
- it will absorb all other colours.

Complete these diagrams:

Light Source Observer

Red Object

Light Source Observer

White Object

Light Source Observer

Black Object
6E-WS3 CLASSIFYING TRANSPARENT, TRANSLUCENT AND OPAQUE OBJECTS

Aim: To be able to correctly identify a variety of transparent, translucent and opaque objects

Write down your own definitions for:

Transparent: .................................................................................................

Translucent: .................................................................................................

Opaque: .................................................................................................

• Look around the room and classify as many objects as you can find into
the following categories

Transparent Translucent Opaque

6E-WS4 THE SPEED OF LIGHT
Aim: To be able to use real world values and the speed/distance/time equation to work out the speed of
light.

The speed of light is a universal speed limit. Nothing can ever go faster than
the speed of light!

The speed of light: 300,000,000 meters per second (m/s) or 300,000 km/s

In order to use the speed of light you need to understand how to work out
times and distances when given a speed.

• A speed is just a measure of how far you travel in a certain time. for
example meters per second or kilometers per hour
• We can put this into an equation: Speed = Distance / Time

We can also rearrange the equation to find out distances and speeds. An easy
way to remember this is the DST triangle.

• Cover up what you want to find, for example

distance (the D) and you are left with S x T

Distance = Speed x Time

• Cover up the T (time) and you are left with D

over S or D/S, the slash means divide.

Time = Distance / Speed

Q1) The Sun is 150,000,000,000 meters from the Earth. How long does it take for the light
to reach us from the sun? Show your workings and give your time in minutes.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................

Q2) It takes light 5 hours 28 minutes and 30 seconds to reach Pluto from the Sun. How far
away is Pluto? Don't forget to convert the time into seconds.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
6E-WS5 WHAT TYPE OF SHADOW DOES IT CAST?
Aim: To be able to shine a light through different objects, identify how to keep it a fair test and make
observations.

Task: Shine a light through a variety of objects and compare the shadow to that on
the chart.

Identifying the Variables Really think about the control variables!

Independent ..............................................................

Dependent ..............................................................

Control ............................................................................................................

Equipment
• Light source
• Variety of thin objects
• White paper
• 1 meter ruler

Method
1. Collect equipment
2. Place the light source 30cm from the object and the object 30cm from the white
paper
3. Observe the shadow that is created and compare it to the chart

Prediction
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................

Results
Object Shadow Observations
shade (1-10)
6E-WS5 WHAT TYPE OF SHADOW DOES IT CAST?

Q1) What type of objects let the most light pass through them? Why do you think this is?
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q2) What type of objects let the least amount of light pass through? Why?
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q3) Why do you think it was important to use objects of the same thickness and ensure
that the light-object-paper distance remained the same?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q4) Is there anything else that you can think of that might affect the shadow shade? How
could you solve this problem?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q5) What do you think would happen to translucent object shadows if the light-object-
paper distance was reduced? Why?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q6) What happens to the shadows of coloured transparent/translucent objects?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q7) Do completely transparent objects leave behind a shadow? Why do you think this is?
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
6E-WS6 SOLAR ECLIPSES
Aim: To use the internet to research about solar eclipses

Solar eclipses are rare events that only

happen occasionally. A total Solar eclipse
generally only happens every 50 years in the
U.K and about once a year in the world. The
frequency with which they happen is not set
so the time in between each one is different
every time.
Q1) What is a Solar eclipse?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q2) What is the difference between a partial and a total eclipse?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q3) During a total solar eclipse the moon exactly covers the Sun, meaning that in the sky
they appear to be the same size, are they really the same size? Why do they appear
to be the same size?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q4) What famous theory was proven during the 1919 Solar eclipse? Explain briefly how it
was proven.

.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
6E-WS7 THE LAW OF REFLECTION

Aim: To be able to correctly set up apparatus and accurately measure the angle of reflection.

Task: Reflect a light ray off a

plane mirror and compare
the angle of incidence with
the angle of reflection.

Keywords:
Plane mirror - A flat mirror, drawn as a straight line with dashes underneath.

Normal - An imaginary line that is draw straight up from where the light ray
hits the mirror.

Angle of incidence - The angle between the normal and the incident light ray.

Angle of reflection - The angle between the normal and the reflected light ray.

Equipment:
• Plane mirror
• light ray box with single slit
• pencil, ruler and protractor
• Plain white paper

Method:
1. Collect your equipment and set it up so that the single slit is in front of the light ray box and
produces a single thin light ray.
2. Place the mirror on its side and angle the beam so that it reflects off the mirror. Make sure that the
end of the light ray box is also on the paper.
3. Using a pencil place a single dot where the light ray leaves the light ray box, a dot where it hits the
mirror and finally a dot about 10cm on along the reflected light ray.
4. Being careful not to move the mirror, draw a line using a pencil along the surface of the mirror.
5. Join up the dots in the order you placed them and draw in the normal, using a ruler, as a dotted
line.
6. Using a protractor, measure the angle between the incident ray and the normal and the reflected
ray and the normal, these will be the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection respectfully.
7. Repeat for different angles.
6E-WS7 THE LAW OF REFLECTION

Results: Conclusion:
What have you found out from this investigation?
θi θr
.................................................................................................
.................................................................................................
.................................................................................................

Were any angles of incidence different from the correlating

angle of reflection? If so why do you think this was the case?

.................................................................................................
.................................................................................................
............................................................................................

Draw a perfect light ray diagram where θi = 45° and θr = 45°

THE LAW OF REFLECTION!!

The angle of reflection is ..................... the
.................... as the angle of incidence.
6E-WS8 REFLECTION ON REFLECTION
REFLEC
Aim: To be able to use knowledge of reflection to answer a variety of questions

Questions on reflection
Q1) Ambulances have the word ‘AMBULANCE
AMBULANCE’ written
backwards, why do you think this is?

................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................

Q2) White objects reflect every colour of

light, yet we cannot see reflections
refl in
them.

Have a look at the following pictures.

By referring to the picture explain why you

think that we can see reflections in
smooth shiny surfaces but not on white
rough surfaces.

.............................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

SUPER SCIENCE QUESTION!!

What colour do you think a mirror is? This is a tough question with multiple
answers so have a think.. Try to back your answer up with an explanation.

................................................................................................
..................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
.....................................................................................
6E-WS9 REFRACTION IN TRANSPARENT BLOCKS
Aim: To be able to correctly set up scientific equipment and measure the refraction of light through a
transparent object.

Equipment:
• Perspex/glass block
• Light ray box with single slit
• White paper, pencil, ruler and protractor

Method:
1. Place the glass block on the table and place the protractor on the side of the block.
2. Shine the light ray so that it hits the block at 50° to the normal.
3. Make a pencil point where the light leaves the light ray box, where it hits the transparent block,
leaves the transparent block and then 10cm on along the light ray from the point of exit, all the
while being very careful not to move the transparent block.
4. Carefully draw around the transparent block ensuring it is not moved.
5. Join up the pencil dots with a ruler.
6. Measure the angles that the light ray makes to the normal when it is inside the transparent block
and also when it has left the block.
7. Repeat for an angle of 0° (straight onto the block).
8. Try to find an angle or position that allows the light ray to fully reflect off the inside of the
transparent block.

Results: Draw what you see

The light ray at 50° to the normal - Complete the diagram with what you observe, don't
forget to draw in the normal when the light ray leaves the glass block. Make sure that
you use the same angles that you measured.

50°
6E-WS9 REFRACTION IN TRANSPARENT BLOCKS

The light ray at 0° to the normal (straight on) - Complete the diagram with what you
observe.

0°

Use a ruler and a pencil to draw a diagram of a position between the light ray box and
transparent block that will cause the light ray to bounce off the inside of the block once it
has already entered. How many times can you get the light ray to reflect internally?
6E-WS9 REFRACTION IN TRANSPARENT BLOCKS

Conclusion:
Q1) When the light ray entered the transparent block did it move closer to the normal or
away from the normal?

....................................................................................................................................................

Q2) When the light ray left the transparent block did it move closer to the normal or away
from the normal?

....................................................................................................................................................

Q3) What happened to the light ray when it was shone straight on to the transparent
block?

....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

Q4) Did you notice anything about the angles made when the light ray entered and left the
block?

....................................................................................................................................................

Q5) Did you notice anything about the angles made by the light ray and the normal when it
was inside the transparent block?

....................................................................................................................................................

Facts about Refraction - Fill in the Blanks

For refraction to happen a light ray must pass through a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ medium, examples of transparent mediums are air,
glass and _ _ _ _ _ . When the light ray passes from a less dense
medium (for example _ _ _ ) into a more dense medium (for example
_ _ _ _ _ ) then the light ray will slow down, which causes it to bend
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ the normal. When the light ray passes from a more dense
medium to a less dense medium (for example glass into air) then it will
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and bend away from the normal.
Speed up Water Transparent Towards Air Glass
6E-WS10 FISHHUNTERS
Aim: To be able to use knowledge of refraction to answer questions.

Hunting fish
In some parts of the world people use spears in order to catch fish.
Quite often when people try to do it for the first time they will miss,
even if the fish is only a meter or so away. They quickly learn to not
aim at the fish but just slight away from it.

Q1) Why do you think this is?

............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................
Q2) Where do you think they will have to change their aim to? Above the fish, below the fish, to the
left or to the right? Explain your answer using scientific terms.
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................

Fish Hunting Bugs

In a reversal of roles there is a very special fish called the Archer Fish that
does the opposite and hunts bugs outside the water. It squirts a jet of water,
that is accurate up to 2 meters and knocks bugs off leaves, to fall into the
water and be eaten.

Q3) What difficulties might this fish have when aiming? Can you think of
two factors it will have to take into account?

.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................

Super Science Question: If you can answer this then you are amazing! You may need to
How does a mirage form? research it on the internet though. Think about refraction and
total internal reflection
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
6E-WS11 PERISCOPES

Add light rays to the two periscope diagrams below

 /LJKW.H\ZRUGV
*:LOVRQ

 

 

 

 







  

 





$FURVV 'RZQ
 7RROXVHGIRUORRNLQJRYHU  :KHQDOLJKWUD\ERXQFHVRII
REVWDFOHVRUDURXQG DQREMHFW
FRUQHUV  /LJKWGRHVWKLVZKHQLWKLWVD
 $EOXHREMHFWZLOOUHIOHFW URXJKVXUIDFHRUSDVVHV
WKLVFRORXU WKURXJKDWUDQVOXFHQWREMHFW
 :KHQDOLJKWUD\FKDQJHV  7KLVKDSSHQVWROLJKWWKDWLV
GLUHFWLRQGXULQJWKH QRWUHIOHFWHGIURPDQREMHFW
WUDQVLWLRQEHWZHHQ  FRPPRQWUDQVSDUHQWVROLG
WUDQVSDUHQWPHGLXPV  6RPHWKLQJWKDWFDQOHW
 $VHHWKURXJKREMHFW WKURXJKOLJKWEXWQRWFOHDUO\
 $QJOHRIBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB  6RPHWKLQJWKDWGRHVQRWOHW
7KHDQJOHPDGHZLWKWKH OLJKWSDVVWKURXJK
QRUPDOE\WKHLQFRPLQJ  DW\SHRIVXEVWDQFH
OLJKWUD\  5HIOHFWLYHVXUIDFH
 $QREMHFWWKDWSURGXFHV  &UHDWHGZKHQDQREMHFW
OLJKW EORFNVOLJKW
 &RPPRQWUDQVSDUHQWJDV
 ,PDJLQDU\OLQHWKDWLVGUDZ
VWUDLJKWXS
SHUSHQGLFXODUIURPWKH
SRLQWRILPSDFWRIDOLJKW
UD\RQDVXUIDFH
 /DUJHPDVVRIURFNDERYH
WKH(DUWKWKDWUHIOHFWVWKH
6XQ
VUD\V
 &RPPRQWUDQVSDUHQW
OLTXLG
Do you know......
• What a luminescent object is?
• How to draw a light ray directly?
• How to draw a light ray reflected?
• What it means when light is scattered?
• How we see coloured objects?
• What colours do coloured objects reflect and absorb?
• What colours do white and black objects reflect and absorb?
• The definitions of transparent, translucent and opaque?
• How a shadow forms?
• what affects the size of a shadow?
• What type of objects cast see through or coloured shadows?
• The law of reflection?
• Why we can see a clear image in a mirror?
• How to correctly draw a reflection diagram?
• What refraction is?
• Which way will a light ray bend when it goes from air into
glass/perspex/water?
• Which way will a light ray bend when it goes from
glass/perspex/water into air?

If you answer NO to any of these then

go back over your work and revise!