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Science: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Shadows and Reflections (Questions)

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Shadows and reflections are the effects of light. Shadows are formed when objects block a source of light. Night is caused by the Earth blocking the light from the Sun - on the half of the Earth in shadow it is night time. Even at night time you can usually see some light - maybe from streetlamps, the moon, the stars or the headlamps of passing cars. Have you ever been anywhere so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face? Reflections are caused by light bouncing off objects. Smooth things usually make better reflectors than rough ones. Mirrors are very smooth and they are the best reflectors.

What causes shadows?

[ ]	Shadows are caused by the dark
[ ]	A shadow appears when light cannot pass through an object
[ ]	Shadows are only caused by the Sun going behind a cloud
[ ]	A shadow is formed when the light changes color to black

Which one of the following is not a source of light?

[ ]	The Sun
[ ]	A fire
[ ]	The Moon
[ ]	A light bulb

Light travels in a straight line. How can it be made to travel around an obstacle?

[ ]	By using reflective materials to change the light's direction
[ ]	By using more than one source of light
[ ]	By blocking the light with another obstacle
[ ]	Light can curve around an object

How does an opaque material affect light?

[ ]	It allows all light to travel through it
[ ]	It allows some light to travel through it
[ ]	It allows no light to travel through it
[ ]	It bends the light which passes through it

You are making shadows with a torch and one hand. What could you do to make the shadow bigger?

[ ]	Use a smaller torch
[ ]	Move the torch further away from your hand
[ ]	Move your hand further away from the torch
[ ]	Move your hand closer to the torch

Which one of the following objects is not translucent?

[ ]	A sheet of glass
[ ]	Tissue paper
[ ]	Cellophane
[ ]	Greaseproof paper

What happens when light hits a reflective material?

[ ]	It passes completely through the material
[ ]	It bounces off the material, changing direction
[ ]	It is absorbed by the material
[ ]	It forms a rainbow

Outdoors, shadows are longest at what time of day?

[ ]	Sunrise and sunset
[ ]	10 a.m.
[ ]	Noon
[ ]	Midnight

Light reflects off which of these materials?

[ ]	A mirror
[ ]	A football
[ ]	Glass
[ ]	Nearly every material will reflect light

10.

Which of the following would reflect the most light?

[ ]	An object with a crumpled surface
[ ]	A smooth, shiny object with flat surfaces
[ ]	A rough object with curved surfaces
[ ]	A dark, shiny object with curved surfaces

Science: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Shadows and Reflections (Answers)

What causes shadows?

[ ]	Shadows are caused by the dark
[x]	A shadow appears when light cannot pass through an object
[ ]	Shadows are only caused by the Sun going behind a cloud
[ ]	A shadow is formed when the light changes color to black

Shadows are dark patches caused by less light hitting them

Which one of the following is not a source of light?

[ ]	The Sun
[ ]	A fire
[x]	The Moon
[ ]	A light bulb

The Moon is not a source of light; it only reflects light from the Sun

Light travels in a straight line. How can it be made to travel around an obstacle?

[x]	By using reflective materials to change the light's direction
[ ]	By using more than one source of light
[ ]	By blocking the light with another obstacle
[ ]	Light can curve around an object

Mirrors can be used to change the direction of light - that's how periscopes in submarines work

How does an opaque material affect light?

[ ]	It allows all light to travel through it
[ ]	It allows some light to travel through it
[x]	It allows no light to travel through it
[ ]	It bends the light which passes through it

Most solid objects are opaque

You are making shadows with a torch and one hand. What could you do to make the shadow bigger?

[ ]	Use a smaller torch
[ ]	Move the torch further away from your hand
[ ]	Move your hand further away from the torch
[x]	Move your hand closer to the torch

Moving an object nearer to the source of light makes its shadow bigger

Which one of the following objects is not translucent?

[x]	A sheet of glass
[ ]	Tissue paper
[ ]	Cellophane
[ ]	Greaseproof paper

A sheet of glass is transparent - it lets light pass straight through

What happens when light hits a reflective material?

[ ]	It passes completely through the material
[x]	It bounces off the material, changing direction
[ ]	It is absorbed by the material
[ ]	It forms a rainbow

Mirrors are very good reflectors

Outdoors, shadows are longest at what time of day?

[x]	Sunrise and sunset
[ ]	10 a.m.
[ ]	Noon
[ ]	Midnight

The Sun is at its lowest point in the sky at those times

Light reflects off which of these materials?

[ ]	A mirror
[ ]	A football
[ ]	Glass
[x]	Nearly every material will reflect light

Light reflects off nearly all materials - light travels from its source, reflects off an object, changes direction and enters our eyes, allowing us to see the object

10.

Which of the following would reflect the most light?

[ ]	An object with a crumpled surface
[x]	A smooth, shiny object with flat surfaces
[ ]	A rough object with curved surfaces
[ ]	A dark, shiny object with curved surfaces

A smooth, shiny object with flat surfaces, such as a mirror, will reflect the most light