All about Light and Shadows Worksheet

Light! Without it, the world would hardly be worth living in.

Sun through leaves

Where does it come from? What happens when something gets in the way? Let's have a look....

If we shine a light on different objects some will let all the light through.

Glass tumbler

What do we call objects that do this?

transparent

translucent

opaque

If we shine a light on different objects some will let some light through.

What do we call objects that do this?

transparent

translucent

opaque

If we shine a light on different objects some will let no light through.

What do we call objects that do this?

transparent

translucent

opaque

Which one of these three objects is opaque?

a window

a brick

a lampshade

Which one of these three objects is transparent?

glass of water

dirty water

cup of tea

Which one of these three objects is translucent?

piece of card

tracing paper

wallpaper

Here are some things that are transparent:


WINDOW	WINDSCREEN	SPECTACLES	MAGNIFIER

Why is it important that they allow light through?

so they reflect light

so they make things look bigger

so we can see what's on the other side of them

Kelly's baby brother cannot sleep unless it's completely dark in his bedroom.

What do you think their Mum and Dad should draw across his window at night?

net curtains

opaque blinds

stars and moons curtains

Which of the following describes the correct way in which shadows are formed?

when light passes through an object

when light reflects off an object

when light is blocked by an object

Which of the following makes the best and clearest shadows?

transparent objects

translucent objects

opaque objects

ANSWERS

Question 1

If we shine a light on different objects some will let all the light through.

Glass tumbler

What do we call objects that do this?

CORRECT ANSWER

transparent

EDDIE SAYS

Transparent objects, like glass, clear plastic, water and so on are transparent as light rays can travel through them.

ANSWERS

Question 2

If we shine a light on different objects some will let some light through.

What do we call objects that do this?

CORRECT ANSWER

translucent

EDDIE SAYS

Translucent objects, like lampshades, sunglasses, jelly and balloons are translucent as some light rays can travel through them but not all.

ANSWERS

Question 3

If we shine a light on different objects some will let no light through.

What do we call objects that do this?

CORRECT ANSWER

opaque

EDDIE SAYS

Opaque objects, like stone, wood, metal, etc., do not let light rays pass through them - those rays bounce off the object in different directions.

ANSWERS

Question 4

Which one of these three objects is opaque?

CORRECT ANSWER

a brick

EDDIE SAYS

Windows and lampshades let some light through, so only brick does not and so is opaque.

ANSWERS

Question 5

Which one of these three objects is transparent?

CORRECT ANSWER

glass of water

EDDIE SAYS

Only the glass of water will allow all light through it, so only that is transparent. The others are translucent as some light will get through.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Which one of these three objects is translucent?

CORRECT ANSWER

tracing paper

EDDIE SAYS

Tracing paper you can see something through (otherwise it wouldn't be much good!), but the other two let no light through - they're opaque.

ANSWERS

Question 7

Here are some things that are transparent:


WINDOW	WINDSCREEN	SPECTACLES	MAGNIFIER

Why is it important that they allow light through?

CORRECT ANSWER

so we can see what's on the other side of them

EDDIE SAYS

All the objects above are for looking through - you need to be able to see what's on the other side - so transparency is vital.

ANSWERS

Question 8

Kelly's baby brother cannot sleep unless it's completely dark in his bedroom.

What do you think their Mum and Dad should draw across his window at night?

CORRECT ANSWER

opaque blinds

EDDIE SAYS

Shame! Curtains with stars and moons on would be nice, but it's hard to keep it completely dark, so a nice opaque blind with a children's design on it will do the job.

ANSWERS

Question 9

Which of the following describes the correct way in which shadows are formed?

CORRECT ANSWER

when light is blocked by an object

EDDIE SAYS

Basically, if you imagine light falling on your wall and you put your hand in the way, the light that was hitting the wall is now bouncing off your hand so there's a hand-shaped 'hole' there on the wall where the light doesn't get as it's been blocked - that's a shadow.

ANSWERS

Question 10

Which of the following makes the best and clearest shadows?

CORRECT ANSWER

opaque objects

EDDIE SAYS

Translucent objects let some light through, so the shadow is a bit dim, whereas with an opaque object all the light bounces off its surface and cannot get through, so a good clear dark shadow is formed.