Science Grade 8
W3 - Lesson 2: Reflection and
Refraction of Light
V5-07
Important Concepts of Grade 8 Science Materials
Required
W1 - Lesson 1 ...................................................................... Mass, Volume, and Density
W1 - Lesson 2 ............................................................. Solubility and Saturation Points
Textbook:
W1 - Lesson 3A ...................................................... Viscosity, Flow Rate, and Buoyancy
Science in
W1 - Lesson 3B .................................................................................... Simple Machines
Action 8
W1 - Lesson 4 .................Gears, Mechanical Advantage, Speed Ratios, and Efficiency
W1 - Lesson 5 .....................................................................Hydraulics and Pneumatics
W1- Quiz
W2 - Lesson 1 ....The Role of Cells within Living Things, Cells-Tissue-Organ System
W2 - Lesson 2 ......................................................................................... The Microscope
W2 - Lesson 3 ................................................................................ Body Systems Part 1
W2 - Lesson 4 ................................................................................ Body Systems Part 2
W2 - Lesson 5 ................................................ Problems Associated with Body Systems
W2 - Quiz
W3 - Lesson 1 ....................................................Transmission and Absorption of Light
W3 - Lesson 2 .......................................................... Reflection and Refraction of Light
W3 - Lesson 3A ...................................................................................Vision and Lenses
W3 - Lesson 3B .. Water in its Various States Affects Earth’s Landforms and Climate
W3 - Lesson 4 ........................................................ Adaptations to Aquatic Ecosystems
W3 - Lesson 5 ........................................................................................... Water Quality
W3 - Quiz ..........................................................................................................................
Science Grade 8
Version 5
Preview/Review W3 - Lesson 2
Publisher: Alberta Distance Learning Centre
Author: Kevin De Clerq
In-House Teachers: Barb Philips and Norene Pinder
Project Coordinator: Dennis McCarthy
Preview/Review Publishing Coordinating Team: Nina Johnson,
Laura Renkema, and Donna Silgard
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Preview/Review Concepts
for
Grade Eight Science
W3 - Lesson 2:
Reflection and Refraction
of Light
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, you should
• define and work with the law of reflection
• define refraction
• explain how refraction can be increased or decreased
• explain how to separate the colours of the spectrum
GLOSSARY
law of reflection - the angle of refraction - the bending of
incidence (angle that light light as it passes from
hits a surface) equals the one medium to another
angle of reflection
visible spectrum - the range
reflection - bouncing light off a of wavelengths that
surface produce visible light
Preview/Review Concepts W3 - Lesson 2 Science Grade 8
W3 - Lesson 2: Reflection and Refraction of Light
Welcome to W3 - Lesson 2. This lesson is designed to teach you
the difference between light reflection and light refraction. It
should take about 1.5 hours to complete.
Light can be reflected or refracted if it hits the right material or
surface. This lesson discusses some of the principles involved with
these properties of light.
Reflection of Light
Reflection occurs when light hits an object and bounces off it,
much like when you bounce a ball. When the ball hits the floor or
wall, it bounces off it. When light strikes a surface, whether smooth
or rough, it can bounce back. Many objects such as a mirror reflect
light. In fact, you see because of reflected light. Everything around
you that you can see is reflecting light.
If you see the colour of an object, the object is absorbing all the light
in the visible light range of the spectrum except the colour that you
can see; that colour is being reflected.
The law of reflection states that if a light ray hits an object at
a certain angle, it will bounce off the object at the same opposite
angle. A more scientific way of saying this is “the angle of incidence
equals the angle of reflection”.
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Science Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W3 - Lesson 2
Mirrors are common
reflecting surfaces. A
mirror with a smooth
surface creates an image
that appears to be behind
the mirror. We know that
this is not possible because
the mirror is opaque and
no light can pass
through it.
Activity 1
Read and understand pages 193, 194, and 196 in Science in Action
8. Then, answer the following questions.
1. Why would you want to wear reflective clothing if you were
walking home on a dark night beside a busy highway ?
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2. Describe regular reflection.
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Preview/Review Concepts W3 - Lesson 2 Science Grade 8
3. Describe diffuse reflection.
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4. How does a two-way mirror work?
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5. What kind of mirrors provide the clearest reflections?
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6. Define the angle of reflection.
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Science Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W3 - Lesson 2
Refraction of Light
Light does not bend as it travels through a medium. It travels in straight lines. However,
when light passes from one medium to another, for example, air to water, light bends and
its speed changes. This is called refraction.
A pencil in a glass of water appears broken because the light, as
it enters the water, has refracted to make the pencil appear out
of shape. When you look at the bottom of a lake, objects in the
water appear to be in different locations than their actual location.
The more dense the material that light enters, the greater the
refraction.
You have learned that the visible spectrum has a range of
wavelengths. White light is made of the entire visible spectrum
combined. As white light passes from air into another medium, its
speed changes and it refracts. Each wavelength in the spectrum
refracts at a slightly different angle, so the colors are separated,
and a rainbow is produced.
For example, as the light enters a prism and as it leaves the
change of speed causes the light waves to refract and the colors to
separate, giving us a rainbow.
Activity 2
Read and understand pages 201 and 203 in Science in Action 8.
Then, answer the following questions.
1. What is refraction and how does it occur?
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Preview/Review Concepts W3 - Lesson 2 Science Grade 8
2. How does refraction change in substances with different densi-
ties?
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You should now be able to meet all of the objectives
listed at the beginning of the lesson. Go through the list
to see if there is anything you need to spend more time
on.
If you have some time remaining start Lesson 3A because
there is much material that must be covered.
Extended Activity (Homework)
Have you ever seen a mirage? In your own words, explain how
this optical illusion occurs. You may have to use another source of
information.
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