International Indian School, Al Jubail

Subject: Science Class: 6

Chapter 8 : Light, Shadows and Reflections

I Define the following

1. Luminous objects: Objects that give out or emit light of their own are called luminous
objects.
2. Mirror: A mirror is a surface that reflects nearly all kinds of light incident on it.
3. Reflection of light: The phenomenon due to which light bounces off or returns back from
a highly polished surface is called reflection of light.

II Differentiate between
1. Transparent, Opaque and Translucent objects
Transparent Opaque Translucent

Objects that allow only some

Objects that allow light to Objects that do not allow light to light to pass through them are
pass through them totally pass through them are called called translucent objects
are called transparent opaque objects.
objects
E.g., glass, air E.g., wall, book E.g., tracing paper, sunglasses

2. Image and Shadow

Image Shadow
Image is formed by the reflection of light rays Shadow is formed when light does not reach
by an object. behind the object.

Image gives more information such as colour, Shadow does not provide any detail about the
structure etc. object; it gives an idea about the shape of the
object.
Image can be erect or inverted Shadow is never inverted.

III. Answer the following

1. What are the necessary conditions to obtain a shadow?
Ans. (i) There should be an opaque object
(ii) There should be a source of light
 (iii) There should be a screen
The opaque object must be placed in the path of light. Then shadow is formed on the screen.

2. What is natural pinhole camera? What type of image is formed by it?

Ans. When sunlight falls on leaves of a tree, the gaps between the leaves act as a natural
pinhole camera. Round shaped images are formed under the tree. These are pinhole images
of the sun.

3. Why is the moon not considered as a luminous body?

Ans: Moon is non-luminous body because it shines by reflecting the sunlight falling on it.

4. Three identical towels of red, blue and green colour are hanging on a clothes line in the
sun. What would be the colour of shadows of these towels?
Ans: The colour of shadows of all three towels will be the same. This is because shadows are
always black in colour and the colour of an opaque object does not affect the colour of the
shadow.

5. With the help of an activity prove that light travels in a straight line.
Ans. Aim: To prove that light travels in a straight line.
Activity: Place a lighted candle on a table. Take a rubber tube and hold it straight. Keep
one end of the tube close to the candle flame and look through the tube from the other end.
We will be able to see flame clearly. Now, bend the tube in the middle and try looking at
the candle flame through it. The flame is not visible.
Conclusion: This proves that light travels in a straight line.

6. What is pinhole camera? Draw a neat diagram to show the image formation of an object
by it.
Ans. Pinhole camera is the simplest kind of camera. It just makes use of a tiny opening
i.e., a pinhole-sized opening to focus all light rays within the smallest possible area to
obtain an image, as clearly as possible. The simple image formed using a pinhole camera
is always inverted.

7. You have to cast the shadow of your pencil on the wall with the help of a candle in a
dark room. How can you obtain (a) the shadow of the same size (b) small size and (c) big
size of the same pencil?
Ans. (a) To obtain the same sized shadow as the pencil, move the pencil to bring it at an
equal distance between the wall and the candle.
 (b)The shadow will be big in size when the pencil is taken away from the wall and
closer to the candle.

(c) The shadow of the pencil will be small in size when the pencil is taken away from
the candle and closer to the wall.
IV Assertion Reason Questions
a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.

1. Assertion (A): When the light from a source fall on a mirror it gets reflected.
Reason (R): Mirror is made of a transparent substance that allows the light to pass
through it.
Ans. c

2. Assertion (A): To see a non-luminous object, a luminous object is required.

Reason (R): Light from a luminous object falls on a non-luminous object and reaches our
eyes.
Ans. a

V Case Study Question

1. Ravi’s teacher asked their class to make a pinhole camera by themselves. Ravi made a pin
hole camera. But he was unable to get the image of a well-lit object. He was very upset.
His elder brother on observing his pinhole camera found that the hole made by him was
quite large. He rectified Ravi's mistake and helped him making another pinhole camera.
Now, Ravi can see the image of the object.

(a) On which principle of light does a pinhole camera works?

The pinhole camera works on the rectilinear theory of light which states that the light
travels in straight line.

(b) Why was Ravi unable to get the image of a well-lit object?
Ravi was unable to get the well-lit image because he made the entrance hole quite
bigger than the required, which eventually decreases the sharpness of the image as
more light started entering into the camera.

(c) How does the formation of the image by a pinhole camera is affected by size of the
hole?
Increased size of the hole decreases the sharpness of obtained image