Which of the following describes a material that allows only some light to pass through?

A) diffuse

B) opaque

C) translucent

D) transparent

Feedback: Objects behind a translucent material are visible but not clearly.

2 INCORRECT

Which properties describe images formed by the lens in the figure?

A) upright, larger than the object

B) upright, smaller than the object

C) upside down, larger than the object

D) upside down, smaller than the object

Feedback: The reflecting surface of a convex mirror curves outward. Light rays diverge, causing images
to be upright but smaller than the object.

3 INCORRECT

The simplest refracting telescopes use what optical system to form an image of a distant object?

A) concave mirror and plane mirror

B) convex lens and plane mirror

C) two convex lenses

D) two concave mirrors

Feedback: In a simple refracting telescope, an image if formed by an objective lens and magnified by an
eyepiece. Both are convex lenses.

4 INCORRECT

What term refers to light that bounces off a rough surface?

A) diffuse refraction
 B) regular refraction

C) regular reflection

D) diffuse reflection

Feedback: Reflection of light refers to light that bounces off a surface. If the surface is rough, the light
scatters in all directions. This is diffuse reflection.

5 INCORRECT

What happens to the light rays that reflect from the mirror in the illustration?

A) converge so that you see a larger area

B) converge so that you see a smaller area

C) diverge so that you see a larger area

D) diverge so that you see a smaller area

Feedback: Light rays that strike a convex mirror converge, allowing you to see a larger area.

6 CORRECT

Which of the following describes images formed by the mirror?

A) inverted, larger than object

B) inverted, smaller than object

C) upright, smaller than object

D) upright, larger than object

Feedback: All images produced by a convex mirror are upright and smaller than the object.

7 CORRECT

What type of image do you see in a concave mirror if you hold it very close to your eyes?

A) upright, smaller than the object

B) upright, larger than the object

C) upside down, larger than the object

 D) upside down, smaller than the object

Feedback: If your eyes are closerto a concave mirror than its focal point, the image you see is upright
and enlarged.

8 CORRECT

If an object absorbs blue light and reflects green and red, what color will the object appear to be?

A) blue

B) green

C) yellow

D) red

Feedback: Reflected light determines the color you see. By mixing green and red, you see yellow.

9 INCORRECT

Light travels fastest through which of the following materials?

A) diamond

B) glass

C) water

D) air

Feedback: The speed of light through matter is determined by the interaction of the light with atoms in
the material. Molecules in air are more spread apart.

10 INCORRECT

Which is a refracting object that is thicker in the center than it is at the edges?

A) convex lens

B) concave lens

C) convex lens

D) convex mirror

Feedback: A lens refracts light. A convex lens is thicker in the center than at the edges.
What is called the normal to the surface?

A) the line perpendicular to where the light ray strikes the surface

B) the line parallel to a reflecting surface

C) the reflecting surface itself

D) the angle of the incoming beam of light

Feedback: The normal is a line that comes out of a reflecting surface at a right angle.

2 CORRECT

Which of the following is the law of reflection?

A) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

B) The angle of incidence is equal to the normal.

C) The angle of reflection is equal to the normal.

D) The normal is perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

Feedback: The law of reflection states that the angles of incidence (incoming) is equal to the angle of
reflection (outgoing).

3 INCORRECT

Object A reflects more than object B. Therefore, object A is __________ object B.

A) rougher than

B) smoother than

C) just as smooth as

D) made of the same material as

Feedback: Object A, which reflects more than object B, does so because it is smoother.

4 INCORRECT

A mirror with a flat surface is called a __________ mirror.

A) plane

B) convex

C) concave
 D) flat

Feedback: Flat mirrors reflect light off a plane, thus the name plane mirror.

5 CORRECT

What occurs to light waves in a convex mirror?

A) They converge.

B) They diverge.

C) They reflect at right angles.

D) They are absorbed.

Feedback: Light rays diverge, or spread out, from the focal point, in a convex mirror.

6 INCORRECT

What is a focal length?

A) the difference between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection

B) the distance from the mirror to the reflecting object

C) the distance light travels along a reflective surface

D) the distance from the center of the mirror to the focal point

Feedback: The focal length measures the distance from the mirror to the focal point in space.

What causes light waves to refract?

A) The speed of light is reduced to zero.

B) The speed of light remains constant.

C) The light is repelled by some materials.

D) The speed of light changes from one medium to the next.

Feedback: When light moves from one medium to the next, the speed of light can change and cause
refraction.

2 INCORRECT

What are the primary pigment colors?

A) red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet

 B) black and white

C) red, blue, and yellow

D) yellow, magenta, and cyan

Feedback: Yellow, magenta, and cyan are three colors that can be mixed to absorb different colors.

3 INCORRECT

What is special about zoom lenses?

A) They have a long focal length.

B) They have no focal length.

C) They have a short focal length.

D) They allow you to change the focal length.

Feedback: Zoom lenses have moveable parts that allow the focal length to be adjusted.

4 INCORRECT

A source of light emits light rays __________.

A) in a circle

B) in all directions

C) in a straight line

D) only at right angles

Feedback: Light rays are emitted from a source in all directions.

5 INCORRECT

A blue car looks blue because __________.

A) blue light is absorbed while others are reflected

B) the blue car emits blue light

C) blue light is reflected while others are absorbed

D) the blue car is opaque

Feedback: Any item appears a certain color because that color is reflected from ambient light.
6 INCORRECT

What is a focal length?

A) the distance light travels along a reflective surface

B) the difference between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection

C) the distance from the center of the mirror to the focal point

D) the distance from the mirror to the reflecting object

Feedback: The focal length measures the distance from the mirror to the focal point in space.

7 INCORRECT

To correct nearsightedness, which lenses should be used?

A) concave

B) convex

C) reflecting

D) plane

Feedback: Concave lenses are used for nearsightedness; convex lenses are used for farsightedness.

8 INCORRECT

A wave transfers __________.

A) gas

B) energy

C) matter

D) liquid

Feedback: A wave carries energy through a medium.

9 INCORRECT

Where does an image form on the eye?

A) the retina

B) the optic nerve

 C) the cornea

D) the lens

Feedback: Your lens projects an image on your retina, which is then interpreted by your brain.

10 INCORRECT

What type of lenses do microscopes use?

A) convex

B) plane

C) reflecting

D) concave

Feedback: Convex lenses cause light rays to converge, thus making them useful to magnify things.

11 INCORRECT

What is the main purpose of a telescope?

A) to magnify an image

B) to gather as much light as possible

C) to make objects appear closer

D) to reflect light at an object

Feedback: Telescopes are designed to collect light first, then magnify it.

12 INCORRECT

What occurs to light waves in a convex mirror?

A) They converge.

B) They diverge.

C) They reflect at right angles.

D) They are absorbed.

Feedback: Light rays diverge, or spread out, from the focal point, in a convex mirror.

13 INCORRECT
The speed of light is __________.

A) slower in water than in air

B) fastest in water

C) faster in water than in air

D) the same speed in water and air

Feedback: The speed of light changes, depending on its medium. In water, it is slower than it is in air,
and this is what causes refraction.

14 INCORRECT

All lenses have __________.

A) no curves at all

B) only one curved side

C) two curved sides

D) at least one curved side

Feedback: Lenses have at least one curved side, whether they are convex or concave.

15 INCORRECT

Object A reflects more than object B. Therefore, object A is __________ object B.

A) made of the same material as

B) smoother than

C) just as smooth as

D) rougher than

Feedback: Object A, which reflects more than object B, does so because it is smoother.

16 INCORRECT

Which is not a primary color?

A) red

B) yellow

C) blue
 D) green

Feedback: Green is not a primary color because it is a mixture of blue and yellow.

17 INCORRECT

What is called the normal to the surface?

A) the line perpendicular to where the light ray strikes the surface

B) the reflecting surface itself

C) the angle of the incoming beam of light

D) the line parallel to a reflecting surface

Feedback: The normal is a line that comes out of a reflecting surface at a right angle.

18 INCORRECT

Why can you see most objects?

A) light refracts through them

B) light reflects off them

C) they emit light

D) they absorb light

Feedback: Light reflects off matter, which allows us to see different things.

19 INCORRECT

The image formed by a concave lens is similar to that formed by a __________.

A) convex mirror

B) plane mirror

C) convex lens

D) concave mirror

Feedback: Concave lenses give images similar to convex mirrors. Convex lenses give images similar to
concave mirrors.

20 INCORRECT

Objects that allow only some light to pass through them are considered __________.
 A) opaque

B) solid

C) transparent

D) translucent

Feedback: Translucent materials allow some light to pass through, but are not completely transparent.