Sectieoverzicht

    • When light hits an object and is able to penetrate through the object's matter, this is referred to as the transmission of light.

      The materials that light can travel through are divided into three basic categories:

      1. Transparent materials
      2. Translucent materials
      3. Opaque materials


      Let's explore each of these in a little more detail.




    • Transparent materials

      Transparent materials allow light to pass through them. Examples include glass windows and doors, clear plastics and prisms. You will be able to see through a transparent object.

    • Translucent materials

      Translucent materials do not allow all the light to pass through therefore when looking through, for example, a translucent window (frosted window) you will only be able to see a blurred image since all the light is not able to penetrate through the frosted window. Examples of translucent materials included frosted glass and tinted car windows. You are able to only partially see through a translucent object.

    • Opaque materials

      Light is unable to pass through opaque materials. Examples include brick walls, humans, concrete, books etc. You are unable to see through an opaque object.

    • Watch the short YouTube video below which provides further examples of transparent, translucent and opaque objects.

      MooMooMath & Science. (2020). Transparent, translucent and opaque (Standard YouTube licence)