NCERT Solutions Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Light: Shadows and Reflections

Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Solutions

Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What are luminous objects?
Answer: Objects that give off their own light are called luminous. Some examples are the Sun, a burning fire, or glowing LED bulbs.
In simple words: These are things that make and shine their own light.

Exam Tip: Remember to give easy examples like the Sun or a light bulb to get full marks.

Question 2. Does the Moon produce its own light?
Answer: No, the Moon does not make its own light. It is a non-luminous object that only shines by bouncing sunlight off its surface.
In simple words: The Moon only looks bright because it bounces light from the Sun.

Exam Tip: Always use the term "reflects" when explaining why we can see the Moon.

Question 3. In which direction does light travel?
Answer: Light never bends on its own. It constantly moves forward along a perfectly straight path.
In simple words: Light moves in straight lines and does not curve.

Exam Tip: Keep your answer short and mention "straight path" or "straight line".

Question 4. What kind of materials form clear shadows?
Answer: Materials that are opaque make very dark and sharp shadows. This happens because they block light completely.
In simple words: Things you cannot see through make the best shadows.

Exam Tip: Identify "opaque" as the key term since these materials do not let any light pass.

Question 5. Name the mirror that forms erect, laterally inverted images.
Answer: This kind of image is produced by a flat plane mirror.
In simple words: A normal bathroom mirror shows this kind of image.

Exam Tip: Write "plane mirror" clearly for full marks.

Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Short Answer Type Questions

Question 6. What is the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque objects?
Answer: Transparent items let light pass through them fully. Translucent items only let some light through. Opaque items block all light and create dark shadows.
In simple words: Clear glass lets all light through. Frosty glass lets some light through. Wood blocks all light.

Exam Tip: Use a small table or list these three types with examples to secure maximum marks.

Question 7. How does light create shadows?
Answer: A shadow is made when an object that is opaque blocks the path of light. Since light cannot pass through, a dark area appears on the surface or wall behind the object.
In simple words: When you block light, you make a dark shape on the wall behind you.

Exam Tip: Make sure to mention that light travels in straight lines, which is why blocking it creates a shadow.

Question 8. What is reflection of light?
Answer: When light hits a smooth, shiny surface like a mirror, it bounces off and changes its path. This bouncing back of light is called reflection.
In simple words: Reflection is when light hits a shiny surface and bounces back, just like a ball off a wall.

Exam Tip: The word "bouncing" is a key term that examiners look for when defining reflection.

Question 9. Why is 'AMBULANCE' written in reverse on emergency vans?
Answer: A mirror flips things from left to right. This is called lateral inversion. Because of this, drivers in front can easily read the word the right way when they look in their mirrors.
In simple words: Mirrors flip words sideways. Writing it backward on the van makes it look normal in a car mirror.

Exam Tip: Always include the scientific term "lateral inversion" in your explanation for this question.

Question 10. What is lateral inversion?
Answer: This is a sideways flip where the left side of an object looks like the right side in a mirror image.
In simple words: When you raise your right hand, your mirror image raises its left hand.

Exam Tip: Describe it as a "left-to-right swap" or "sideways reversal" of the image.

Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Descriptive Answer Type Questions

Question 11. Describe the image formed by a plane mirror.
Answer: A flat mirror creates an image that is upright and has the exact same size as the real object. However, the image is flipped from left to right. It is also a virtual image, which means it looks like it is behind the glass and cannot be shown on a screen.
In simple words: The mirror shows an upright picture of you that is your normal size, but your left and right sides are swapped.

Exam Tip: Remember these four key terms: virtual, erect, laterally inverted, and same size.

Question 12. Explain how a pinhole camera works.
Answer: A pinhole camera works because light always travels in straight lines. Light coming from an object goes through a tiny opening. This light then projects an upside-down picture onto a screen placed on the other side of the box.
In simple words: Light goes through a tiny hole and makes an upside-down picture on a screen inside.

Exam Tip: Clearly state that the image formed is inverted (upside down) and that light travels in straight lines.

Question 13. How do shadows change with the position of the object and light?
Answer: The look of a shadow depends on how close the object is to the light and the wall. Moving the object closer to the light source makes the shadow larger. Moving it closer to the wall or screen makes the shadow smaller.
In simple words: Put your hand close to a lamp to make a giant shadow. Move it near the wall to make it small.

Exam Tip: Remember: object closer to light = bigger shadow; object closer to screen = smaller shadow.

Question 14. What are the three conditions needed to form a shadow?
Answer: You need three things to create a shadow. First, you must have a source of light. Second, you need an opaque object to block that light. Finally, there must be a screen or flat surface where the shadow can fall.
In simple words: To make a shadow, you need a lamp, something to block the light, and a wall for the shadow to show up.

Exam Tip: List the three components clearly using bullet points to make your answer easy for the examiner to read.

Question 15. What is a periscope and how does it work?
Answer: A periscope is a tool that helps you see things that are blocked from view. Inside a Z-shaped tube, two mirrors are fixed at 45-degree angles. These mirrors bounce light so you can look over or around walls and obstacles.
In simple words: It is a tube with two mirrors inside that lets you see over tall walls.

Exam Tip: Mention the specific angle of the mirrors (45 degrees) and its Z-shape design.

Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Exploring Questions

Question 16. Why don't we see a bird's shadow when it flies high in the sky?
Answer: When a bird flies very high, it is far away from the ground, which acts as a screen. The shadow it casts becomes so spread out and light that it disappears before reaching the earth. This makes it impossible to see.
In simple words: The bird is too high up, so its shadow fades away before it hits the ground.

Exam Tip: Explain that the ground is the screen, and increasing the distance between the object and the screen makes the shadow faint.

Question 17. Why do objects in a kaleidoscope form multiple patterns?
Answer: A kaleidoscope contains three mirrors set up at angles. When light enters, it bounces repeatedly between these mirrors. This endless bouncing of reflections creates lovely, balanced patterns that shift whenever you rotate the tube.
In simple words: Mirrors inside bounce light back and forth to make beautiful, changing designs.

Exam Tip: Highlight "multiple reflections" and "symmetrical patterns" as the primary reasons.

Question 18. How is the image in a mirror different from that in a pinhole camera?
Answer: An image in a mirror is upright and virtual, but it is flipped sideways. In contrast, a pinhole camera produces an upside-down, real image on a screen that is not flipped from left to right.
In simple words: A mirror shows you right-side up but flipped sideways. A pinhole camera shows you upside down.

Exam Tip: Use a two-column comparison table comparing mirror images (virtual, erect) with pinhole camera images (real, inverted) for better presentation.

Question 19. How does the use of LED lights benefit society?
Answer: LED bulbs help us save power and last a very long time, which lowers electricity bills. They are also better for nature. However, we must recycle them carefully when they stop working.
In simple words: LED lights use very little power and last long, but they need proper recycling.

Exam Tip: Be sure to list both the benefits (energy saving, long life) and the recycling caution to get full marks.

Question 20. Can a small mirror form the image of a large object?
Answer: Yes, even a tiny mirror can bounce light from huge things like tall trees to show their image. However, you will only see a small part of the big object at one time.
In simple words: A small mirror can show a big tree, but it only shows a tiny part of it at once.

Exam Tip: State "Yes" clearly first, and then explain that the "field of view" becomes smaller.

Question 21. What is the difference between a shadow and an image, as explained in Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11?
Answer: A shadow is created when an opaque item blocks light. This makes a dark shape on a wall or ground. Shadows do not have colors or fine details, and they always appear on the opposite side of the light. An image is different because it is made when light bounces off a mirror. It shows the real colors, shape, and tiny details of the object. For example, a mirror shows a clear virtual image, while a pinhole camera makes a real upside-down image.
In simple words: A shadow is just a dark shape where light is blocked. An image shows all the colors and details of the real thing.

Exam Tip: Draw a simple table to compare shadows and images on points like color, details, and how they are formed.

Question 22. What is lateral inversion and how does it affect reading in mirrors, as described in Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11?
Answer: Lateral inversion means that a mirror swaps the left and right sides of an object. This is why emergency vans have the word "AMBULANCE" printed backward on the front. When a driver ahead looks in their mirror, the letters flip back and look correct, so they can let the van pass quickly. This sideways flip happens because the mirror bounces light straight back but reverses the direction from left to right.
In simple words: A mirror flips things sideways. This is why backward writing on an ambulance looks normal in your car mirror.

Exam Tip: Use the ambulance example to explain lateral inversion, as it is a classic exam question.

Question 23. How does a pinhole camera work and what principle is it based on in Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11?
Answer: This device works because light always moves forward in straight lines. It is just a simple box with a tiny pinhole on one side and a semi-clear screen on the other. When light goes through the pinhole, it projects an upside-down, smaller, and real image of the object onto the screen. This camera does not need lenses or power, but it shows us exactly how light behaves.
In simple words: Light travels straight through a tiny hole in a box to make a small, upside-down picture on the back screen.

Exam Tip: State the key principle first: "light travels in a straight line" (rectilinear propagation of light).

Question 24. What are the main things to remember in Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11?
Answer: To do well in Chapter 11, you should remember these main points:
1. Light always travels along straight paths.
2. When opaque objects block the path of light, shadows are created.
3. Reflection is what happens when light bounces off smooth, shiny surfaces like mirrors.
4. Learn how sideways flipping happens, the way images are made in mirrors, and how shadows become sharp or fuzzy depending on the light and materials.
In simple words: Remember how light moves, how shadows are made, how mirrors bounce light, and how images look.

Exam Tip: These four points cover the core syllabus of Chapter 11. Practice drawing diagrams for each of them.

Question 25. Is Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 hard to understand?
Answer: No, this chapter is very easy and fun to learn. It deals with everyday things like shadows, mirrors, and light that you can see around you. By doing simple activities at home, like using a flashlight or looking in a mirror, you can easily grasp all the ideas.
In simple words: This chapter is simple because it is about everyday things like light, shadows, and mirrors.

Exam Tip: Don't worry about complex formulas. Focus on basic definitions and real-world examples.

Question 26. How can I study Class 7 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 more easily at home?
Answer: You can study this chapter easily by doing small science experiments at home. Try making a simple pinhole camera using a cardboard box, or observe how your shadow changes size as you move closer to a light bulb. Reading the chapter and practicing the short definitions will also help you remember the key terms.
In simple words: Play with a flashlight and a mirror at home to see how light works.

Exam Tip: Doing hands-on activities helps you write better answers in exams because you remember what you saw.