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Science Quiz - Light (Questions)

In KS2 Science, light is explored to understand how we see, how shadows are formed, and how light travels in straight lines through different materials.

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Fascinating Fact:

Some animals, like fireflies and certain deep-sea fish, can make their own light through a process called bioluminescence.

In KS2 Science, pupils learn how light enables vision, why shadows form, and how reflective and transparent objects behave. This topic also introduces concepts like reflection and refraction.

Key Terms

Reflection: When light bounces off a surface, such as a mirror.
Refraction: The bending of light when it passes through materials like water or glass.
Opaque: A material that does not allow light to pass through it.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How does light help us to see?

We see objects because light reflects off them and enters our eyes, where it is detected by the retina and interpreted by the brain.

What materials let light pass through?

Transparent materials like glass and clear plastic let most light pass through, while translucent ones let some through, and opaque ones block light completely.

What is the difference between reflection and refraction?

Reflection happens when light bounces off a surface, while refraction happens when light bends as it enters a different material.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Which of these is not a source of light?

[ ]	A candle flame
[ ]	The Sun
[ ]	The Moon
[ ]	A torch

2.

Imagine a candle flame. Light from the candle flame travels in which direction?

[ ]	In arcs
[ ]	In straight lines
[ ]	In random lines
[ ]	All of the above

3.

Approximately, how fast does light travel?

[ ]	120 kilometres per hour
[ ]	3,000 kilometres per hour
[ ]	3,000 kilometres per second
[ ]	300,000 kilometres per second

4.

Light travels slightly more slowly through air than through space. It is slowed down a little bit more by glass and which of the following?

[ ]	Metal
[ ]	Water
[ ]	Concrete
[ ]	Wood

5.

How will a beam of light shining on a glass prism behave?

[ ]	It will be refracted
[ ]	It will be completely reflected
[ ]	It will be completely absorbed
[ ]	It will not be changed at all, instead being perfectly transmitted

6.

If you half fill a clear glass with water and place a straw in the glass, how does the straw appear when you look at it carefully?

[ ]	It appears normal
[ ]	It seems to change colour
[ ]	It appears bent or broken
[ ]	It disappears completely

7.

There are forms of light which are invisible to the human eye. Which of these is an example?

[ ]	Ultraviolet
[ ]	Reflections
[ ]	Dark matter
[ ]	Starlight

8.

Visible light contains many colours. Which of the following is not one of these colours?

[ ]	Green
[ ]	Yellow
[ ]	Black
[ ]	Red

9.

Why does a green apple look green?

[ ]	It absorbs green light, but reflects the other colours
[ ]	It reflects green light, but absorbs all of the other colours
[ ]	It absorbs green light, but transmits all of the other colours
[ ]	It transmits all of the light

10.

A submarine's periscope allows someone on the boat to see objects that are above the water. How is this possible?

[ ]	Light reflecting off the object curves as it enters the periscope
[ ]	Light reflecting off the object is transmitted as it enters the periscope
[ ]	Mirrors within the periscope reflect the light, enabling it to change direction
[ ]	Periscope is another name for window

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is light?

Science Quiz - Light (Answers)

1.

Which of these is not a source of light?

[ ]	A candle flame
[ ]	The Sun
[x]	The Moon
[ ]	A torch

The Moon does not produce any light - it only reflects the light of the Sun

2.

Imagine a candle flame. Light from the candle flame travels in which direction?

[ ]	In arcs
[x]	In straight lines
[ ]	In random lines
[ ]	All of the above

Light always travels in straight lines - we know this because a beam of light cannot curve around an object. If you hold a book between your eyes and the candle flame, you will not be able to see the flame - its light cannot travel through or around the book

3.

Approximately, how fast does light travel?

[ ]	120 kilometres per hour
[ ]	3,000 kilometres per hour
[ ]	3,000 kilometres per second
[x]	300,000 kilometres per second

Light travels faster than anything else - huge distances in space are described as 'light years'. Light travels the 150,000,000 kilometres from the Sun to the Earth in about eight minutes - can you imagine how far it could travel in a year?

4.

Light travels slightly more slowly through air than through space. It is slowed down a little bit more by glass and which of the following?

[ ]	Metal
[x]	Water
[ ]	Concrete
[ ]	Wood

Metal, concrete and wood are opaque materials that do not transmit light (let light pass through them)

5.

How will a beam of light shining on a glass prism behave?

[x]	It will be refracted
[ ]	It will be completely reflected
[ ]	It will be completely absorbed
[ ]	It will not be changed at all, instead being perfectly transmitted

When a beam of light shines on a glass prism, the light is refracted into its different colours, showing a 'rainbow' band of colours on the nearest white surfaces

6.

If you half fill a clear glass with water and place a straw in the glass, how does the straw appear when you look at it carefully?

[ ]	It appears normal
[ ]	It seems to change colour
[x]	It appears bent or broken
[ ]	It disappears completely

This interesting effect is caused by the refraction of light in the water

7.

There are forms of light which are invisible to the human eye. Which of these is an example?

[x]	Ultraviolet
[ ]	Reflections
[ ]	Dark matter
[ ]	Starlight

Ultraviolet (UV) light is visible to some insects and animals. Bumblebees can see UV light, for example

8.

Visible light contains many colours. Which of the following is not one of these colours?

[ ]	Green
[ ]	Yellow
[x]	Black
[ ]	Red

Visible, or 'white' light does not include the colour black. The colours of visible light are those of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). Objects look black when they absorb all of the light shining on them

9.

Why does a green apple look green?

[ ]	It absorbs green light, but reflects the other colours
[x]	It reflects green light, but absorbs all of the other colours
[ ]	It absorbs green light, but transmits all of the other colours
[ ]	It transmits all of the light

The colour we see when we look at objects is the colour that is reflected by that object - all other colours are absorbed

10.

A submarine's periscope allows someone on the boat to see objects that are above the water. How is this possible?

[ ]	Light reflecting off the object curves as it enters the periscope
[ ]	Light reflecting off the object is transmitted as it enters the periscope
[x]	Mirrors within the periscope reflect the light, enabling it to change direction
[ ]	Periscope is another name for window

Modern submarines have replaced mirrors with prisms which can also magnify the reflections