Can You See It?

When moving light bumps into an object, the light either enters the object or bounces off. How light behaves when it hits an object depends on the material the light hits. Transparent materials, such as glass windows, allow light to pass through them with little or no interference. We can see clearly through transparent materials. Translucent materials allow light to pass through, but the light is spread out. As a result, objects behind translucent materials cannot be seen in clear detail. A frosted shower door is an example of a translucent material. Opaque materials stop the passage of light, so we cannot see through opaque objects. Examples of opaque materials are a wooden door or a steel pole. When an opaque item gets in the path of bright light, a shadow forms.

Label each object below as opaque, translucent, or transparent.

1. a thin sheet of paper.
2. a brick
3. wax paper
4. a car window.
5. a book
6. plastic wrap
Show how the same leaf would appear as you look at it through a translucent window, an opaque wall, and a transparent window.
7. translucent
8. opaque
9. transparent
10. What are two ways light can behave when it hits something?
11. Why do shadows appear behind some objects when bright light shines on them?
12. How does the distance between a light source and an opaque object affect a shadow?