Light & Sound — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which sense do we use for light?
A) Hearing
B) Sight
C) Touch
D) Taste
Light is caught by our eyes, so we use sight to sense every color and shape.
2. Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder?
A) Thunder is late
B) Light travels faster than sound
C) Thunder is shy
D) Eyes work first
Light zips through the air much faster than sound, so the flash reaches us first.
3. Which is TRUE for BOTH light and sound?
A) You can taste them
B) They can both bounce off things
C) They both need wires
D) Only humans make them
Light reflects off mirrors and sound echoes off walls, so both can bounce back.
4. Which one can travel through empty space?
A) Sound only
B) Light only
C) Both easily
D) Neither ever
Light travels through empty space, but sound needs air, water, or solids to move.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Both light and sound are types of energy.
Light and sound are forms of energy that travel out from a source to reach us.
2. Light can bounce off a mirror and sound can bounce as an echo.
An echo is simply sound reflecting off a hard surface back to your ears.
3. Light is sensed by your eyes, but sound is sensed by your ears.
Different senses catch different energy: eyes catch light and ears catch sound.
4. In a thunderstorm we see the flash before the boom.
Light travels faster than sound, so the flash reaches us before the thunder.
5. Sound needs matter to travel, but light can cross empty space.
Light moves through the vacuum of space, while sound has no matter to shake.