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Man: In this experiment we direct a light beam onto an ordinary glass of water. You observe that the light beam does not follow a straight line but alters its direction, this is called refraction. Can anybody tell me where this occurs?

Woman: Is it when the light hits the water?

Man: Precisely! What else do you observe?

Woman: Further down the light beam we can see sort of a rainbow.

Man: Yes! Why do we observe this prism effect?

Woman: It appears that just like in a prism, the light refracts, splitting it into different wavelengths.

Man: Excellent! But what about the third light beam over here? Does this one show a rainbow effect?

Woman: No, not really!

Man: Does it follow the original path?

Woman: Erm, no!

Man: So the original light beam splits in two, neither of which follows the original path but only one of them results in a prism effect. Now, why would that be?

Woman: That third beam there doesn't really get into the water; it just sort of bounces off.

Man: It reflects. Very well observed!

1. Where does this conversation take place?

a. bar

b. dormitory

c. lecture hall

d. coffee shop

2. What is the relationship between the two speakers?

a. mother and child 

b. husband and wife

c. father and daughter 

d. teacher and student

3. What is this dialogue concerned with?

a. optics 

b. hydraulics

c. gastronomy 

d. thermodynamics

4. What is refraction?

a. light shining in water

b. change of colour of a light beam

c. distance a light beam can travel in water

d. change of direction of light travelling into a new medium

5. What is reflection?

a. light shining through water

b. light bouncing off a surface

c. light changing into a rainbow

d. light evaporating water into a rainbow

Solutions    1. c, 2. d, 3. a, 4. d, 5. b

By Mr Test