Translucent, opaque, and transparent materials are all different ways to explain how certain objects let visible light pass through them. While some people may think that they’ve similar meanings, they don’t. We have explored and explained all these objects (translucent transparent opaque) with the help of definitions and examples.
Let’s take a look:
What Is Transparent Object?
The word transparent is used to refer to something that is see-through or clear. So, transparent objects are items through which you can clearly see things that are present on the other side by looking through that item.
Almost all the light that comes in contact with transparent materials passes directly through them. As a matter of fact, you even see intricate details such as colors through transparent objects.
Characteristics of Transparent Materials
- Any item placed on the other side of a transparent object can be seen clearly.
- Light can pass totally through them.
- A shadow doesn’t form in transparent objects because they don’t block any light.
- You can clearly see the other side through a transparent object.
- They are also called see-through objects because you see through them as clear as day.
Examples of Transparent Materials
- Cellophane
- Glass windowpane (Clear)
- Glass light bulb (clear)
- Cling wrap
Detailed Examples
Prism is one of the most transparent materials known to man. You can see everything through a prism.
We use a lot of items made from glass in our daily life such as water glasses, fish tanks, lenses, spectacles, and watches, etc. Light passes completely through these glass objects which is why they are transparent.
Diamond is the clearest object ever made. If you look at something written on a piece of paper through a diamond, you will be able to read it clearly. Hence, it is transparent.
Air is everywhere in our surroundings. If it is clear, we can easily spot everything. For instance, if you ever travel by plane, look outside the window, how clear the air is.
If you have ever tried looking at something through the clear water, you will know how clear it is. However, it is important to keep the clarity of the water in mind because if it isn’t clear, you won’t be able to see through it clearly.
What Are Translucent Objects?
The
word translucent is used to refer to an object that allows light to pass through it but it doesn’t show clear images on the other side. So, when you look through translucent objects, you can spot the objects on the side but you can’t tell what they are.
When light encounters translucent objects, some of it passes directly through them but some of it doesn’t. As a result, we only see unclear and fuzzy images of the items present across translucent objects.
Why Does Translucency Occur?
Due to the non-uniform distribution of matter, an object can have a different density in different parts. This can cause irregular refraction and inaccurate transmission. The density fluctuations can also result in scattering centers. And where the fluctuations happen, the light rays scatter.
Any fluctuations in the composition of a crystal structure can result in the scattering of light.
In a polycrystalline structure, the grain boundaries and in an organism the cell boundaries can act as scattering centers.
Characteristics of Translucent Objects
- Faint shadow forms in translucent materials because they don’t block all of light.
- Translucent items let light partially pass through them.
- Any items placed on the other side of translucent objects can’t be seen clearly.
- Transparent objects are also called see-through objects because you can partially see through them.
- You cannot see anything clearly through any translucent object.
Examples of Translucent Objects
- Vegetable oil
- Sunglasses
- A single piece of tissue paper
- Sauteed onions
- Wax paper
Detailed Examples
If you pour some colored liquid into a glass bottle, you will not be able to see clearly through the liquids.
Go to your kitchen, find some butter paper, and look through it. You will not be able to see through the butter paper clearly.
You can spot both transparent and translucent objects when you are on a plane. While air is transparent, clouds are translucent because you cannot see clearly through them.
If you have tinted glass somewhere in your house, try looking through it. You will not be able to see the other side of the tinted glass clearly.
If a glass has some sort of frost or moisture on it, it becomes translucent because you can see through it but you cannot see the opposite side clearly.
Everyone has colored plastics present at home. Look through your house and try finding colored plastic, and look through it. You will automatically understand that colored plastics are translucent objects.
When was the last time you attended a birthday party that had a lot of balloons? Have you ever tried looking through colored balloons? The images of the items on the other side are hazy and you cannot see them clearly.
You cannot see clearly when you look through stained glass. If you have ever visited an old, historical empire building, you will understand that stained glass is also translucent.
What Is Opaque Object?
The
word opaque is used to refer to an object that is not capable of letting light pass through it. When talking in science terms, opaque materials are considered the opposite of translucent and transparent materials.
