Name:_______________________________________________

Date:_____________________

Light Study Guide

Test Date: 02/03/15
ISN Pages: 60-76
Chapter 1 Section 1 and 2: Introduction to Waves
Key Terms: Crest, Trough, Wavelength, Amplitude, Frequency
1. Can you label each vocabulary term on an image of a wave?
Review last quiz and your ISN
2. Can you determine the frequency of a wave?
Frequency = # waves per second. Count how many waves exist before the 1
second mark.
Chapter 3 Section 1 : The Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
Key Terms: Electromagnetic wave, electromagnetic radiation
1. What does an electromagnetic wave consist of?
Electromagnetic waves consist of electrical and magnetic fields.
2. How does an electromagnetic wave move?
EM waves move in straight lines, at the speed of light, and can travel through
empty space.
3. What makes an electromagnetic wave different from a mechanical wave?
Mechanical waves must travel through a medium, while EM waves can travel
through empty space.
Chapter 3 Section 2 : Waves of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Key Terms: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Radio Waves, Microwaves, Radar, Infrared Rays,
Visible Light, Ultraviolet Light, X-rays, Gamma Rays
1. How are the electromagnetic waves alike? How are they different?
All EM waves travel through empty space, in straight lines, and at the speed of
light. They all have the same amplitude. EM waves have different characteristics
because they have different wavelengths and frequencies.
2. What waves make up the electromagnetic spectrum?
Radio, Micro, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-Rays, Gamma
3. Describe the pattern of wavelength and frequency as you move from left to right
across the EM spectrum.
Wavelength decreases and frequency increases.
Chapter 4 Section 1: Light and Color
Key Terms: Transparent Material, Translucent Material, Opaque Material

1. What happens to light that strikes an opaque object? A translucent object? A

transparent object?
Light that strikes an opaque object is either reflected or absorbed. Light that
strikes a translucent object is reflected (diffuse reflection) and transmitted. Light
that strikes a transparent object is transmitted.
2. What determines the color of an opaque object? A transparent object?
The color of an opaque object is determined by the color of light that is reflected.
The color of a transparent object is determined by the color of light that is
transmitted.
Chapter 4 Section 2: Reflection and Mirrors
Key Terms: Ray, regular reflection, diffuse reflection, plane mirror, image, virtual image,
real image, concave mirror, optical axis, focal point, convex mirror
1. Describe the kinds of reflection.
Regular reflection happens when light bounces off of a smooth surface. Diffuse
reflection happens when light bounces off of a rough surface
2. What types of images are produced by a plane mirror? A concave mirror? A convex
mirror?
Plane Mirror Images that are virtual and the same size as the original object.
Images are reversed.
Concave Mirror When close, images that are virtual and large, When far,
images that are real and large. When very far images are real and small
Convex Mirror Always forms small and virtual images
Chapter 4 Section 3: Refraction and Lenses
Key Terms: Index of Refraction, lens, convex lens, concave lens
1. Why do light rays bend when they enter a medium at an angle?
When they enter a medium at an angle, the change in speed causes light to bend.
2. What determines the types of images formed by convex and concave lenses?
An objects position relative to the focal point of a convex lens will determine
whether the image is real or virtual. A concave lens only forms virtual images.