Explainer: Reflection, refraction, and the power of lenses

What type of lens is thicker in the middle and bends light to a focal point?

• Bifocal lens
• Concave lens
• Convex lens
• Cylindrical lens

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What is the role of a mirror in reflecting light?

• Bending light
• Scattering light
• Reflecting light
• Absorbing light

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What causes the distinct arc of colors in a rainbow?

• Reflection
• Refraction
• Diffraction
• Dispersion

What causes incoming light to bend by different amounts depending on the wavelength?

• Prism
• Refraction
• Reflection
• Absorption

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Why do we not see rainbows in the snow like we do in rain?

• Snow absorbs light differently
• Snow refracts light differently
• Snow crystals are different from raindrops
• Snow reflects light differently

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What is the purpose of combining mirrors and lenses in optical devices?

• Focusing light
• Blocking light
• Scattering light
• Distorting light

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What causes a straw to appear bent when placed in a glass of water?

• Reflection
• Absorption
• Diffraction
• Refraction

What is the effect of a galaxy or a black hole on the light from a distant star?

• Warping
• Refraction
• Reflection
• Absorption

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What is the law that states light waves will bend when they move from one medium to another?

• Dispersion
• Reflection
• Refraction
• Diffraction

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What causes the light from the sun to paint clouds near the horizon in red and orange hues during sunrise or sunset?

• Reflection
• Refraction
• Absorption
• Diffraction

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2