P4 Light & Shadows — Topical Practice Paper 2

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Instructions: This assessment has 2 sections. Answer all questions. Section A has 10 multiple-choice questions (2 marks each). Section B has 4 structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. Total: 60 marks.

Key Concepts Covered

Sources of light (luminous vs non-luminous objects)
How we see objects — light reflected into our eyes
Shadows — how they form, and how their size/position change
Transparent, translucent, and opaque materials
Reflection of light and mirrors

Section A

Multiple Choice Questions

[2 marks each · 20 marks]

Question 1

Which of the following is a source of light?

AThe Moon

BA mirror

CA lit candle

DA white wall

Question 2

Three objects — K, L and M — were placed between a torch and a screen, one at a time:

K — No shadow was formed on the screen
L — A dark shadow was formed on the screen
M — A faint shadow was formed on the screen

Which row correctly identifies the type of material for each object?

	K	L	M
(1)	Transparent	Opaque	Translucent
(2)	Translucent	Transparent	Opaque
(3)	Opaque	Transparent	Translucent
(4)	Transparent	Translucent	Opaque

A(1)

B(2)

C(3)

D(4)

Question 3

Which of the following materials is opaque?

AA wooden door

BClear glass window

CTissue paper

DClean water in a clear cup

Question 4

A torch is shone on a triangular piece of cardboard. The shadow formed on the screen has the shape of a triangle. What happens to the shadow if the torch is moved further away from the cardboard?

AThe shadow becomes smaller but still triangular

BThe shadow becomes larger but still triangular

CThe shadow changes to a different shape

DThe shadow disappears completely

Question 5

Melissa wants to see a balloon that is hidden behind a wall. She uses two mirrors to do this. How does Melissa see the balloon?

AThe mirrors absorb the light from the balloon

BThe mirrors give off their own light to show the balloon

CThe mirrors reflect the light from Melissa's eyes into the balloon

DThe mirrors reflect the light that falls on the balloon into Melissa's eyes

Question 6

Which of the following objects is a luminous object?

AThe Moon

BA book

CA firefly

DA mirror

Question 7

The diagram below shows a ball placed between a torch and a screen.

If the ball is moved closer to the screen, what happens to the shadow?

AThe shadow becomes smaller

BThe shadow becomes larger

CThe shadow stays the same size

DThe shadow changes colour

Question 8

Sheila wants to see an object that is hidden behind a wall using a mirror. Where should she place the mirror?

Which of the following statements explains how Sheila can see the object?

ALight from the object reflects off the mirror into Sheila's eyes

BThe mirror absorbs light from the object

CLight passes through the wall to Sheila's eyes

DThe mirror gives off light that reaches the object

Question 9

Three materials — P, Q and R — were tested for how much light passes through them:

P — All light passed through, objects behind it are clearly visible
Q — Some light passed through, objects behind it appear blurry
R — No light passed through, a shadow was formed

Which row correctly identifies the materials?

	P	Q	R
(1)	Opaque	Translucent	Transparent
(2)	Transparent	Opaque	Translucent
(3)	Transparent	Translucent	Opaque
(4)	Translucent	Transparent	Opaque

A(1)

B(2)

C(3)

D(4)

Question 10

John is reading a book in a well-lit room. Which statement explains how John sees the book?

ALight is reflected from the book to his eyes

BLight travels from his eyes to the book

CThe book emits light into his eyes

DLight from his eyes reflects off the book

Section B

Structured Questions

[10 marks each · 40 marks]

Question 11

Four students measured the amount of light passing through four different objects — R, S, T and U — using a light sensor connected to a datalogger.

Object	Amount of light recorded (units)
R	200
S	0
T	75
U	500

(a) Which object does not allow any light to pass through? [1]

(b) Classify each object as transparent, translucent or opaque. [3]

Question 12

Ali wanted to investigate which material was best at reflecting light. He set up his experiment in a dark room as shown below.

Material	Distance measured (cm)
A — Plane mirror	80
B — White paper	50
C — Black card	10
D — Silver foil	70

(a) Which material is the best reflector of light? Give a reason for your answer. [2]

(b) Which material is the worst reflector of light? [1]

Question 13

Elena set up an experiment to investigate how the position of a torch affects the shadow of a ball.

Position of torch	Distance from ball (cm)	Shadow size on screen
High above the ball	10	Small shadow
Low, near the table surface	10	Large shadow

(a) What can Elena conclude about the position of the light source and the size of the shadow? [2]

(b) Elena wants to make the shadow even larger. What should she do? [1]

Question 14

Elena set up an experiment to investigate how the position of a torch affects the shadow of a ball.

Position of torch	Distance from ball (cm)	Shadow size on screen
High above the ball	10	Small shadow
Low, near the table surface	10	Large shadow

(a) What can Elena conclude about the position of the light source and the size of the shadow? [2]

(b) Elena wants to make the shadow even larger. What should she do? [1]

Answer Key

Section A — Multiple Choice

Q1: C Q2: A Q3: A Q4: B Q5: D Q6: C Q7: A Q8: A Q9: C Q10: A

Section B — Structured Questions

Q11

(a) Object S (0 units of light passed through)

(b) R = translucent (allows some light); S = opaque (no light); T = translucent (allows some light); U = transparent (allows most/all light)

(c) To prevent extra light from entering and affecting the readings / To ensure a fair test

Q12

(a) Material A — Plane mirror. It has the largest distance measured (80 cm), meaning it reflects light the furthest and is therefore the best reflector.

(b) Material C — Black card (smallest distance of 10 cm, poorest reflector).

(c) Yes. Using a larger torch would change the light intensity, which is not a fair test. Only one variable should be changed at a time in a fair test.

Q13

(a) When the torch is positioned lower (closer to the table surface), the shadow becomes larger. The lower the light source, the larger the shadow.

(b) Move the torch even lower (closer to the table surface) or move the ball closer to the screen.

(c) A shadow forms because the ball is opaque and blocks light from reaching that part of the screen. Light travels in straight lines and cannot bend around the ball.

Q14