Question

wei saw a special type of plastic that would melt and become a liquid when it was placed in the sun, but it would not melt when placed under a desk lamp. why does light from the sun melt the plastic when light from the desk lamp does not? because the plastic can take in energy from the light from the sun but not from the light from the lamp. because light from the sun carries heat molecules, and light from the desk lamp does not. because light from the sun pulls energy out of the plastic, and light from the desk lamp does not. because the sun gives off a type of light that carries energy, and light from the desk lamp does not.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Correct. The sun's light (e.g., UV, infrared, visible) has energy the plastic can absorb to melt, while a desk lamp's light may not have enough or the right type of energy for the plastic to absorb and melt.
• Option 2: Incorrect. Light doesn't carry "heat molecules"—heat is energy transfer, not molecules.
• Option 3: Incorrect. Light (from sun or lamp) transfers energy to the plastic (absorption), not pull energy out.
• Option 4: Incorrect. All light (including desk lamp) carries energy (e.g., visible light has energy), but the sun's light has more/right energy for the plastic to melt.

Answer:

The first option (the one with "Because the plastic can take in energy from the light from the sun but not from the light from the lamp.")