Understanding Light and Its Properties

What is one of the key characteristics of light that makes it unpredictable?

• It cannot be bent using lenses or mirrors.

• It never changes direction.

• It can reflect, refract, and change direction.

• It always travels in curved lines.

What causes the bright and dark lines in a diffraction pattern?

• Polarization and scattering

• Absorption and emission

• Constructive and destructive interference

• Reflection and refraction

What tool is used to separate wavelengths of light to study spectra?

• Photometer

• Spectrometer

• Telescope

• Microscope

What kind of spectrum is emitted by heated solid materials or high-pressure gases?

• Line spectrum

• Continuous spectrum

• Absorption spectrum

• Emission spectrum

What phenomenon causes the rainbow colors on a soapy bubble?

• Diffraction

• Polarization

• Thin film interference

• Scattering

What are Newton's Rings?

• Bright and dark lines caused by polarization

• Circular rainbow patterns caused by interference

• Patterns of light and dark circles caused by diffraction

• Patterns of light and dark circles caused by reflection

What is polarization in the context of light waves?

• The separation of light into different colors

• The reflection of light off surfaces

• The filtering of light based on the direction of its electric field oscillation

• The bending of light as it passes through different media

How do polarized sunglasses reduce glare from water surfaces?

• By absorbing all incoming light

• By blocking vertically polarized light

• By reflecting all incoming light

• By blocking horizontally polarized light