Name_________________________

STUDENT INSTRUCTION AND ANSWER SHEET

Activity 3: Where is the Light Coming From?

Below is a picture of the Sun, a yellow lamp, and a red apple. The lamp is turned off (Case 1.)

diagram of Sun, apple, and unlit lamp


A. Would you be able to see the apple? If so, what color is it?

 

 

B. Explain why it is visible to your eye. In particular, describe the path that light takes that allows you to see the apple.

 

 

 


C. Would you be able to see the lamp? If so, what color is it?

 

 

D. Explain why it is visible to your eye. In particular, describe the path that light takes that allows you to see the lamp.

 

 

 

Now imagine that the lamp is turned on (Case 2.)

diagram of Sun, apple and lit lamp


E. Would you still see the apple? Would it look the same as it did in Case 1? Is it the same color? Is it in the same position? Is it the same brightness?

 

 

 

 

F. Would you still see the lamp? Would it look the same as it did in Case 1? Describe how the lamp might look different from Case 1, if it does.

 

 

 

 

G. Is all of the light you see coming from the apple in Case 2 reflected light? Explain.

 

 

 

H. Is all of the light you see coming from the lamp in Case 2 reflected light? Explain.

 

 

 

I. Is all of the light you see coming from the lamp in Case 1 reflected light? Explain.

 

 

 

When light is generated from within an object and given off, we call this light emitted light. We now have three terms to describe the behavior of light: reflected, absorbed, and emitted.

J. For Case 1, list which objects are emitting light, which are reflecting light, and which are absorbing light.

    emitted:


    reflected:


    absorbed:



I. For Case 2, list which objects are emitting light, which are reflecting light, and which are absorbing light.

    emitted:


    reflected:


    absorbed: