CHAPTER

SELF-QUIZ
12
The following icons indicate the Achievement Chart K/U Knowledge/Understanding T/I Thinking/Investigation
category addressed by each question. C Communication A Application

For each question, select the best answer from the four Indicate whether each statement is TRUE or FALSE. If you
alternatives. think the statement is false, rewrite it to make it true.
1. As light passes from air into water, 5. Light travels faster in cool air than in warm air.
(a) the light bends toward the normal. (12.7) K/U

(b) the light bends away from the normal. 6. The legs of someone standing in water appear to
(c) the light continues on a straight path and be longer than they actually are. (12.7) K/U

does not bend.

(d) the light is completely reflected off the 7. When light refracts, it changes direction as it
surface of the water. (12.1) K/U travels from one medium into another. (12.1) K/U

2. The index of refraction for glass is 1.52. What is

the speed of light in glass? (12.4) K/U
Copy each of the following statements into your notebook. Fill
in the blanks with a word or phrase that correctly completes
(a) 1.52 × 108 m/s the sentence.
(b) 1.97 × 108 m/s
(c) 3.00 × 108 m/s 8. If the _________ of a light ray passing through
(d) 6.57 × 108 m/s water is greater than the critical angle for water,
the resulting light ray will reflect back into the
3. You see a submerged seashell that you want to water. (12.5) K/U

bring home for your collection. Which statement

correctly describes where you should place your 9. Triangular prisms are more useful in optical
net in order to pick up the shell? (12.7) K/U
devices than mirrors because these prisms
_________ almost 100 % of the light internally.
(a) Place the net directly above the image of the
(12.5) K/U

shell in the water.

(b) Place the net directly behind the image of the 10. The index of refraction for a given medium is
shell in the water. a _________ quantity because it has no units.
(c) Place the net directly in front of the image of (12.4) K/U

the shell in the water.

(d) Place the net directly below the image of the Match each term on the left with the most appropriate
shell in the water. description on the right.
4. Which condition must be true for total internal 11. (a) index of (i) the result of white light
reflection to occur? (12.5) K/U
refraction passing through a prism
(b) mirage (ii) the process that makes a
(a) The light ray must bend toward the normal.
(c) dispersion diamond sparkle
(b) The angle of reflection must equal the angle
(d) total internal (iii) the ratio of the speed of
of incidence.
reflection light in a vacuum to its
(c) The angle of incidence must be greater than
(e) retro-reflector speed in a medium
the critical angle.
(iv) a device used on road
(d) Light must be travelling faster in the first
signs to make them visible
medium than in the second.
at night
(v) an image that appears
to be a puddle of water
on the road at a distance
(12.4, 12.5, 12.7) K/U

544 Chapter 12 • The Refraction of Light

Write a short answer to each of these questions. 19. (a) White light slows down when it passes
12. Give an example in which light undergoes partial through a prism. Use what you know about
reflection and partial refraction at the same time. dispersion, refraction, and the colours of the
(12.1) K/U
visible spectrum to explain why the colours
that make up white light appear in a specific
13. You have learned that light travels in straight order as they exit the prism.
lines. You have also learned that light bends. (b) Would red laser light be dispersed if it
Explain why these two statements do not passed through a prism? Why or why not?
contradict each other. (12.1) K/U T/I
(12.7, 11.3) T/I

14. Look at the indices of refraction in Table 1. 20. Would you be able to see a rainbow in the sky
Table 1 Indices of Refraction for Three Media during a rainstorm if there were clouds between
Medium Index of Refraction you and the Sun? Why or why not? (12.7) T/I

A 2.30 21. (a) Name three devices that make use of total
B 1.76
internal reflection.
C 1.98
(b) Draw a diagram that illustrates the
Through which medium, listed in Table 1, does phenomenon of total internal reflection.
light pass Include arrows in your diagram that indicate
(a) fastest? the direction in which the light is travelling.
(b) slowest? (12.4) K/U
Also show the critical angle with a dashed
line. (12.5) K/U C

15. The speed of light in sulfuric acid at room

temperature is 2.11 × 108 m/s. What is the 22. Write a definition of “apparent depth” in your
index of refraction for sulfuric acid? Show your own words. (12.7) K/U C

calculations. (12.4) K/U

23. Your friend claims that mirages do not really
16. (a) How does the technology of fibre optics exist, and that if you try to take a picture of one,
make use of light? the mirage will not show up in the photo. Do
you think your friend is correct? Explain your
(b) Why is it important that a material used to
answer. (12.7) T/I

produce fibre optic cables have a very small

critical angle? (12.5) K/U 24. A company that installs a special coating on car
windows has hired you to market this product.
17. Suggest at least two uses for retro-reflectors in
This special coating allows the driver to see out,
your home. (12.5) A
but limits what others see when they look into
18. Consider how your eyes and brain interpret the car. Design an ad for this product showing
information to allow you to see the image how the coating works. (12.6) C A

of an object in a plane mirror. Compare this

process to the way your eyes and brain interpret
information to allow you to see an image that is
underwater. (12.7, 11.7) T/I

Chapter 12 Self-Quiz 545