Light Travels in Straight Lines Knowledge Check

Year 6 ScienceLight6 pages

About this worksheet

Twelve questions in four sections make up this Year 6 knowledge check on how light travels. Section 1 has a word bank for two gap-fill sentences, then asks pupils to tick the true light sources from a list that includes the Moon and a high-visibility jacket. Section 2 shows four ray diagrams of a lamp, a book and an eye, and asks which is correct. Section 3 lines up a torch behind three cards with holes, and Section 4 asks pupils to trace light through a periscope. It is matched to the England National Curriculum, and an answer page closes the sheet.

Page 1 of 6

When this preview is focused, use the left and right arrow keys to move between pages.

Curriculum objectives covered

Light

โ€œRecognise that light appears to travel in straight linesโ€

Question 1 and Section 3. Question 8 depends on light being blocked by the solid part of Card C.

Light

โ€œUse the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eyeโ€

Questions 2 and 3, and the four ray diagrams in questions 5 to 7.

Light

โ€œExplain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyesโ€

Question 5 (Diagram A) and question 11, where light travels from the apple through the periscope to the eye.

Light

โ€œUse the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast themโ€

The first statement in the question 10 table.

What's inside this worksheet

Section 1: Core Concepts

Pupils fill two gaps from a word bank of six, tick the light sources among six objects and pick what the arrowhead on a ray shows.

Section 2: Ray Diagrams

Pupils choose the correct one of Diagrams A to D, then explain the mistakes in B (rays leave the eye) and C (wavy rays).

Section 3: Light and Shadows

Pupils decide if torchlight reaches the screen through Cards A, B and C, say how to fix Card C, and mark three shadow statements true or false.

Section 4: Applying What You Know

Pupils draw the path of light from an apple, off two mirrors, to the eye in a periscope. Question 12 asks why we cannot see round a brick wall.

Answers

Short answers for all 12 questions, with a note that the Moon, mirror and jacket only reflect light.

How teachers use it

Card and torch demo

Punch holes in three pieces of card and set them up as in question 8. Pupils predict first, then move Card C to test question 9.

Diagram B check

Plenty of pupils draw rays coming out of the eye, as in Diagram B. After question 6, ask them to check their own earlier ray diagrams.

Periscope build

After question 11, make a periscope from a juice carton and two small mirrors so pupils can test the path they drew.

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