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Primary 6 PSLE Science Light Quiz
Free P6 PSLE Science Light quiz, Nemo3 Exam version, with questions, answers, and PSLE-focused practice for Singapore students.
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Questions
Primary 6 PSLE Science Quiz - Light
Name: ___________________________
Class: Primary 6 _______
Date: _______________
Score: ______ / 44
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Marks: 44
Instructions:
- Answer all questions.
- For Section A, choose the correct option and write its number (1, 2, 3, or 4) in the brackets provided.
- For Section B and C, write your answers in the spaces provided.
- The number of marks for each question is shown in brackets [ ].
- Diagrams are not drawn to scale unless stated.
Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions (10 × 2 marks = 20 marks)
For each question, choose the correct answer and write its number (1, 2, 3, or 4) in the brackets provided.
1. Which of the following is a natural source of light? [2]
(1) Candle flame
(2) Lightning
(3) Torchlight
(4) Television screen
Answer: (____)
2. Light travels in a __________. [2]
(1) curved path
(2) zigzag path
(3) straight line
(4) circular path
Answer: (____)
3. A wooden block is placed between a torch and a screen. A dark shadow is formed on the screen. This shows that wood is __________. [2]
(1) transparent
(2) translucent
(3) opaque
(4) reflective
Answer: (____)
4. Which of the following objects does NOT reflect light well? [2]
(1) Plane mirror
(2) Polished metal spoon
(3) Black velvet cloth
(4) Still water surface
Answer: (____)
5. The diagram below shows a ray of light hitting a plane mirror.
Generated diagram for Q5.
What is the angle of reflection? [2]
(1) 30°
(2) 60°
(3) 90°
(4) 120°
Answer: (____)
6. When white light passes through a glass prism, it splits into seven colours. This phenomenon is called __________. [2]
(1) reflection
(2) refraction
(3) dispersion
(4) absorption
Answer: (____)
7. A student looks at a red apple under white light. The apple appears red because it __________. [2]
(1) reflects red light and absorbs other colours
(2) absorbs red light and reflects other colours
(3) transmits red light only
(4) produces red light
Answer: (____)
8. Which of the following statements about shadows is correct? [2]
(1) Shadows are formed when light passes through an object.
(2) The size of a shadow remains the same regardless of the distance between the object and the light source.
(3) A shadow is formed on the side of the object facing the light source.
(4) The closer the object is to the light source, the larger the shadow.
Answer: (____)
9. Light can travel through __________. [2]
(1) vacuum only
(2) solids only
(3) vacuum, air, and water
(4) air and water only
Answer: (____)
10. The diagram below shows a pencil placed in a beaker of water.
Generated diagram for Q10.
The pencil appears bent because ______. [2]
(1) light travels slower in water than in air
(2) light changes direction when it passes from water to air
(3) the pencil is actually bent
(4) water magnifies the pencil
Answer: ()
Section B: Structured Questions (5 × 2 marks = 10 marks)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
11. Classify the following objects into "Light Source" and "Non-Light Source". [2]
| Object | Classification |
|---|---|
| Sun | |
| Moon | |
| Firefly | |
| Mirror | |
| Lighted candle | |
| Book |
12. Complete the ray diagram below to show how a person sees the image of an object in a plane mirror. [2]
Generated diagram for Q12.
13. State two differences between a shadow and a reflection. [2]
Difference 1: _______________________________________________________________________
Difference 2: _______________________________________________________________________
14. The diagram below shows white light passing through a triangular glass prism. [2]
Generated diagram for Q14.
(a) Name the phenomenon shown. _______________________________________________________
(b) Which colour is deviated (bent) the most? ____________________________________________
15. A torch is shone on a green leaf in a dark room. The leaf appears green. Explain why. [2]
Section C: Open-Ended Questions (5 × 2–4 marks = 14 marks)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
16. An experiment is set up as shown below to investigate how the distance between the light source and the object affects the size of the shadow. [3]
Generated experimental_setup for Q16.
The table below shows the results.
| Distance between torch and object (cm) | Height of shadow on screen (cm) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 12 |
| 20 | 8 |
| 30 | 6 |
| 40 | 5 |
(a) State the relationship between the distance between the torch and the object and the height of the shadow. [1]
(b) Explain why the shadow is largest when the torch is closest to the object. [2]
17. The diagram below shows a ray of light passing from air into a rectangular glass block. [3]
Generated diagram for Q17.
(a) What happens to the speed of light when it enters the glass block from air? [1]
(b) The ray bends towards the normal when entering the glass. Explain why. [1]
(c) The emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray but displaced sideways. Name this displacement. [1]
18. Peter shines a torch at a red ball in a dark room. He observes the colour of the ball under different coloured filters placed in front of the torch. [4]
Generated experimental_setup for Q18.
Complete the table below to show the colour of the ball Peter would see under each filter.
| Filter colour | Colour of ball observed | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Red | ||
| Green | ||
| Blue |
19. The diagram below shows a periscope made using two plane mirrors. [4]
Generated diagram for Q19.
(a) Complete the ray diagram above to show how light from the tree reaches the eye. Draw two rays with arrows. [2]
(b) State one property of the image seen through the periscope. [1]
(c) If the top mirror is turned slightly so that it is no longer at 45°, what will happen to the image? [1]
20. A student conducts an experiment to compare how different materials affect the amount of light passing through them. She uses a light sensor connected to a datalogger. [4]
Generated experimental_setup for Q20.
The results are shown below.
| Material | Light intensity detected (lux) |
|---|---|
| Clear glass | 950 |
| Frosted glass | 420 |
| Tracing paper | 380 |
| Cardboard | 0 |
(a) Which material is opaque? [1]
(b) Arrange the remaining three materials in order of transparency, starting from the most transparent. [1]
(c) The student wants to make a lampshade that allows some light to pass through but hides the bright bulb. Which material should she choose? Explain your choice. [2]
End of Quiz
Answers
Primary 6 PSLE Science Quiz - Light (Answer Key)
Total Marks: 44
Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions (10 × 2 marks = 20 marks)
1. Answer: (2) Lightning [2]
Explanation: Lightning is a natural source of light produced by electrical discharge in the atmosphere. Candle flame, torchlight, and television screen are man-made (artificial) light sources.
2. Answer: (3) straight line [2]
Explanation: Light travels in straight lines. This is a fundamental property of light called rectilinear propagation. It explains why shadows are formed and why we cannot see around corners.
3. Answer: (3) opaque [2]
Explanation: An opaque object does not allow any light to pass through it. When light hits an opaque object, a dark shadow is formed because light is completely blocked. Transparent objects allow most light through (no shadow), and translucent objects allow some light through (faint shadow).
4. Answer: (3) Black velvet cloth [2]
Explanation: Black velvet cloth has a rough, dark surface that absorbs most light falling on it, reflecting very little. Plane mirrors, polished metal, and still water have smooth, shiny surfaces that reflect light well (regular reflection).
5. Answer: (1) 30° [2]
Explanation: According to the Law of Reflection, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, both measured from the normal. Since the angle of incidence is 30°, the angle of reflection is also 30°.
6. Answer: (3) dispersion [2]
Explanation: Dispersion is the splitting of white light into its constituent colours (spectrum) when it passes through a prism. This happens because different colours of light travel at different speeds in glass and are refracted (bent) by different amounts.
7. Answer: (1) reflects red light and absorbs other colours [2]
Explanation: The colour of an opaque object is the colour of light it reflects. A red apple reflects red light into our eyes and absorbs the other colours (orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) in white light.
8. Answer: (4) The closer the object is to the light source, the larger the shadow. [2]
Explanation: When an object is closer to a point light source, it blocks a larger angle of light rays, casting a larger shadow on the screen. As the object moves away, the shadow becomes smaller. Shadows form on the side opposite the light source, not facing it.
9. Answer: (3) vacuum, air, and water [2]
Explanation: Light is an electromagnetic wave and does not require a medium. It can travel through vacuum (e.g., sunlight reaching Earth), air, water, glass, and other transparent media. It travels fastest in vacuum and slows down in denser media.
10. Answer: (2) light changes direction when it passes from water to air [2]
Explanation: This is refraction. Light bends when it passes from one medium to another of different optical density (water to air). The light rays from the submerged part of the pencil bend away from the normal as they exit the water, making the pencil appear bent at the surface.
Section B: Structured Questions (5 × 2 marks = 10 marks)
11. [2 marks – ½ mark each correct classification]
| Object | Classification |
|---|---|
| Sun | Light Source |
| Moon | Non-Light Source |
| Firefly | Light Source |
| Mirror | Non-Light Source |
| Lighted candle | Light Source |
| Book | Non-Light Source |
Explanation: Light sources emit their own light. The Sun (nuclear fusion), firefly (bioluminescence), and lighted candle (combustion) produce light. The Moon only reflects sunlight, a mirror reflects light, and a book reflects ambient light – none produce their own light.
12. [2 marks]
Expected diagram features (1 mark each):
- Incident ray from object to mirror, reflected ray from mirror to eye, obeying Law of Reflection (angle i = angle r)
- Virtual image drawn behind the mirror (dashed line), same distance behind mirror as object is in front, same size as object
Explanation: To see an object in a plane mirror, light from the object reflects off the mirror into the eye. The brain traces the reflected rays back in straight lines behind the mirror, forming a virtual image. The image is upright, same size, laterally inverted, and located as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.
13. [2 marks – 1 mark each difference]
Difference 1: A shadow is a dark area formed when an opaque object blocks light; a reflection is an image formed when light bounces off a smooth surface.
Difference 2: A shadow is always dark (same shape as object, no colour/detail); a reflection shows the colours and details of the object.
Other acceptable differences: Shadows form on a screen/surface; reflections appear on/in the reflecting surface. Shadows require an opaque object and a light source; reflections require a smooth, shiny surface and light.
14. [2 marks]
(a) Dispersion [1]
(b) Violet [1]
Explanation: (a) The splitting of white light into its component colours by a prism is called dispersion. (b) Violet light has the shortest wavelength and slows down the most in glass, so it is refracted (bent) the most. Red light has the longest wavelength and is deviated the least.
15. [2 marks]
Answer: The green leaf reflects green light into our eyes and absorbs the other colours (red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, violet) present in white light from the torch.
Explanation: Under white light, an object's colour is determined by which colour(s) it reflects. A green leaf contains chlorophyll which absorbs red and blue light for photosynthesis and reflects green light.
Section C: Open-Ended Questions (14 marks)
16. [3 marks]
(a) As the distance between the torch and the object increases, the height of the shadow decreases. [1]
(b) When the torch is closer to the object, the light rays spread out more (diverge more) by the time they reach the object, so the object blocks a wider beam of light, casting a larger shadow on the screen. When the torch is further away, the light rays are more parallel, so the object blocks a narrower beam, forming a smaller shadow. [2]
Key concept: Light from a point source diverges. Closer object → larger angular size → larger shadow.
17. [3 marks]
(a) The speed of light decreases (slows down) when it enters the glass block from air. [1]
(b) Light travels slower in glass (optically denser medium) than in air (optically less dense medium). When light enters a denser medium at an angle, it bends towards the normal. [1]
(c) Lateral displacement [1]
Explanation: (a) Light slows down in optically denser media. (b) Refraction towards the normal occurs when light enters a denser medium due to change in speed. (c) The sideways shift of the emergent ray relative to the incident ray is called lateral displacement. The emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray because the two surfaces of the rectangular block are parallel.
18. [4 marks – 1 mark each cell]
| Filter colour | Colour of ball observed | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Red | Red filter transmits red light; red ball reflects red light → red light reaches eye |
| Green | Black / Dark | Green filter transmits only green light; red ball absorbs green light → no light reflected to eye |
| Blue | Black / Dark | Blue filter transmits only blue light; red ball absorbs blue light → no light reflected to eye |
Explanation: A coloured filter only allows its own colour to pass through. A red ball reflects only red light. Under red light, it reflects red → appears red. Under green or blue light, it absorbs that light (no red light to reflect) → appears black/dark.
19. [4 marks]
(a) Ray diagram showing: [2]
- Ray from tree → top mirror (45°) → reflects down tube → bottom mirror (45°) → reflects horizontally to eye
- Angles of incidence = angles of reflection = 45° at both mirrors
- Arrows showing direction from object to eye
(b) The image is upright / same size as object / laterally inverted / virtual. (Any one) [1]
(c) The image will not be visible / the light will not reach the eye / the ray will miss the bottom mirror. [1]
Explanation: (a) Periscope works by two reflections at 45° mirrors, turning light 90° each time (total 180°). (b) Plane mirror images are upright, same size, laterally inverted, virtual. (c) If the top mirror is not at 45°, the reflected ray will not hit the bottom mirror at the correct angle to direct light to the eye.
20. [4 marks]
(a) Cardboard [1]
(b) Clear glass → Frosted glass → Tracing paper [1]
(c) Material: Frosted glass (or tracing paper). Explanation: It is translucent – it allows some light to pass through (so the room is lit) but scatters the light, hiding the bright bulb and reducing glare. [2]
Explanation: (a) Cardboard allows 0 lux – completely opaque. (b) Higher light intensity = more transparent. Clear glass (950) > Frosted glass (420) > Tracing paper (380). (c) A lampshade needs to transmit light but diffuse it. Frosted glass or tracing paper are translucent – they transmit light but scatter it, hiding the bulb. Clear glass would show the bulb; cardboard would block all light.
Marking Notes:
- For Section A: 2 marks per correct answer, 0 for incorrect.
- For Section B/C: Award marks for key concepts/keywords as indicated. Accept equivalent phrasing.
- Diagrams: Award marks for correct ray paths, arrows, labels, and image positions.
- Common mistakes: Confusing reflection/refraction, thinking Moon is a light source, thinking shadows form on the light-facing side, not knowing violet deviates most, not understanding colour filters.
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