Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Physical Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Physical Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Students enter a darkened classroom where several objects are placed on a table. When the lights are off and no flashlight is used, the objects cannot be seen. When a flashlight shines on the objects, they become visible immediately.
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Students notice:
No light shining on the object – the object cannot be seen
Light shining on the object – the object can be seen
Students ask:
Why does shining light on an object allow us to see it?
To see an object, light must enter our eyes. Objects do not usually make their own light. Instead, we see most objects because light reflects off them and travels into our eyes.
In a dark room, there is very little light. Without light shining on an object, there is no light to reflect into our eyes, so the object cannot be seen. When a flashlight shines on an object, light travels from the flashlight to the object. The light then reflects off the surface of the object and enters our eyes. This reflected light allows our brains to recognize the object.
Different objects can reflect light in different ways, but all visible objects must reflect at least some light to be seen. If no light reaches the object, or if reflected light does not reach our eyes, the object remains invisible.
By using a flashlight in a dark room, students can model the path of light. The model shows light traveling from the source, bouncing off the object, and entering the eye. This investigation helps explain why light reflection is necessary for vision.
Trial | Light Source On | Object Visible |
|---|---|---|
1 | No | No |
2 | Yes | Yes |
3 | No | No |
4 | Yes | Yes |
Object Type | Brightness Rating (1 to 5) |
|---|---|
Book | 3 |
Pencil | 2 |
Coin | 5 |
In which situation are the objects visible?
Look at Table 1. What happens to object visibility when the light source is turned on compared to when it is off?
Using Figure 1, describe the pattern between the presence of light and the number of objects seen.
Look at Table 2. How does the brightness rating differ among the book, pencil, and coin when light reflects off them?
Which statement is best supported by the brightness data?
How does the flashlight investigation show that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen?
Include a claim, evidence, and reasoning.