Light and Optics Flashcards
Grade 5 · Science · Flashcards
Master the key concepts of light behavior, optics, and the visible spectrum with these review cards.
Flashcards
- Light Ray
- A narrow beam of light traveling in a straight line from a light source.
- Reflection
- The bouncing of light off a surface. The angle light hits the surface equals the angle it bounces back.
- Refraction
- The bending of light as it passes from one material into another with different optical density (e.g., air to water).
- Absorption
- When a material takes in light energy and converts it to heat rather than reflecting or transmitting it.
- Transparent
- A material that allows light to pass through clearly so objects can be seen distinctly (e.g., clear glass, clean water).
- Translucent
- A material that allows some light to pass through but scatters it, so images are blurry (e.g., frosted glass, wax paper).
- Opaque
- A material that blocks all light and does not allow any to pass through (e.g., wood, metal, cardboard).
- Visible Spectrum (ROY G BIV)
- The colors of light visible to humans: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet — from longest to shortest wavelength.
- Prism
- A transparent triangular solid that refracts white light, separating it into the visible spectrum of colors.
- Wavelength
- The distance between two peaks of a light wave; determines the color of visible light. Red = longest, Violet = shortest.
- Concave Mirror
- A mirror that curves inward (like the inside of a bowl); it focuses light and makes objects appear larger up close.
- Convex Lens
- A lens that is thicker in the middle than at the edges; it refracts light to a focal point and is used in magnifying glasses.
- Shadow
- A dark area formed when an opaque object blocks light, proving that light travels in straight lines.
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