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  1. Science
  2. Year 3
  3. Light
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All about Light and Shadows

In this worksheet, students will be helped to look over some of the basic work on light.

'All about Light and Shadows' worksheet

Key stage:  KS 2

Curriculum topic:  Light

Curriculum subtopic:  Shadows

Difficulty level:  

down

Worksheet Overview

QUESTION 1 of 10

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 Car windscreen Spectacles Magnifying glass
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 Car windscreen Spectacles Magnifying glass
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.
---- OR ----

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