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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Learning Competency:

Apply the inverse square relation intensity of waves and distance.

(STEM_GP12MWS-IIe-34)

ACTIVITY 1: INVERSE SQUARE LAW

Objectives: Using simple materials, students create model to show how they discover inverse square law.
Explain why the world gets dark so fast outside the circle of the campfire?

Materials: • A Mini Maglite flashlight (or other small bright light source),Ruler, A 3x5 index card, Scissors, A
medium sized binder clip, Graphing paper with ½- inch or ¼inch squares (if using metric use graph paper with
1-cm squares), Cardboard box or piece of foam core , tape

Time needed/location: Investigate modelling Inverse square law while the sun is out or in the room with without
light. Depending on the level of investigation, can take between 20 – 45 minutes.

Procedure:
1. Use your ruler and scissor to measure and cut out a ½ x ½ square inch in the center of the index
card.
2. Clip the binder clip to the bottom of the card to make a stand.
3. Mount the graph paper on the side of the cardboard box or piece of foam core to make a screen.
.

4. Next, unscrew the front reflector assembly of the Mini Maglite to expose the bulb. The bulb will come
on and stay on when reflector assembly is removed. (see the image below)

5. Prop the light so it is at the same height as the square hole that you cut in the card.
6. Position the card one inch in front of the light source.
7. Line up the Mini Maglite, Square hole, and graph paper so when the light shines through the hole you
see a square of light on the graph paper.

If you are using metric units:

Follow the directions above, but instead of a ½ x ½ inch hole, cut – out 1x1 – cm square hole in the
center of the index card.
1. Position the card 2 centimetres in front of the light source.
2. Use the graph paper with 1 cm square printed on it.
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To Do and Notice

Keep the distance between the bulb and the card with the square hole constant at one inch. (If you are
using metric graph paper, we recommend a distance of 2 cm.) Put the graph paper at different distance from
the bulb, and count how many squares on the graph paper are lit at each distance (see the diagram below).
The result will be easier to understand if you make a table of “number of squares lit” versus “distance.” Be sure
to measure the distance from the graph paper to the bulb each time.

What’s going on?

As you move the graph paper from the Mini Maglite, what happen to the light? Why? Explain your answer.

ACTIVITY 2: FIND ME

Directions: Choose the correct answer. Write the letter of your answer on the blank before the number.
______1. If I1 = 100 IU at d1 = 1 cm, what is I2 at d2 = 10 cm?
A. 1 IU
B. 2 IU
C. 3 IU D. 4 IU

______ 2. A reading of 12 lumens/hr is obtained at a distance of 3.5 cm from point source. At what distance
would a reading of 1000 lumens/hr be obtained?
A. 1.000 cm
B. 0.285 cm
C. 0.380 cm D. 0.450 cm _______ 3. A reading of 287 mR/hr is obtained at a distance of 1.5 cm
from a point source. At what distance would a reading of 28.7 mR/hr be obtained?
A. 4.89 cm
B. 4.90 cm
C. 4.74 cm D. 4.57 cm

_______ 4. A reading of 287 mR/hr is obtained at a distance of 1.5 cm from a point source. What would be the
reading at a distance of 15 cm?
A. 2.90 mR/hr
B. 2.87 mR/hr
C. 3.87 mR/hr D. 3.90 mR/hr

_______ 5. A reading of 100 mR/hr is obtained at a distance of 1cm from a point source. What would be the
reading at a distance of 1nm?
A.100,000 mR/hr
B. 20,000 mR/hr
C. 30,000 mR/hr D. 10,000 mR/hr

Activity 3: SOLVE ME
Directions: Read and analyze the problem very carefully. Then solve and show your complete solutions.
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1. The intensity of monochromatic light is in the ratio 16:1. Calculate the second distance if the first
distance is 6m? a. 24 m
b. 21 m
c. 26 m
d. 27 m

2. If a bright flashlight has a light intensity of 15.0 candela at a distance 1.00 m from the lens, what is
the intensity of the flashlight 100.0 m from the lens? a. 0.01500 candela
b. 0.00015 candela
c. 0.00165 candela
d. 0.00015 candela

3. The intensity of light is 800 W/m2 at 4 m away from the source. What is the intensity of the light of a
distance of 3m away from the light source?
4. a. 1522.7 W/m2
b. 1622.5 W/m2
c. 1422.2 W/m2
d. 1822.2 W/m2