6 (d)
When Light Strikes an Object
To understand why objects have different colors, you need to know how light can interact with an object. When light strikes an object, the light can be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. Think about a pair of sunglasses. If you hold the sunglasses in your hand, you can see light that reflects off the lenses. If you put the sunglasses on, you see light that is transmitted by the lenses. The lenses also absorb some light. That is why objects appear darker when seen through the lenses.
Lenses, like all objects, are made of one or more materials. Most materials can be classified as transparent, translucent, or opaque based on what happens to light that strikes the material.
Transparent Materials
A transparent material transmits most of the light that strikes it. The light passes right through without being scattered. This allows you to see clearly what is on the other side. Clear glass, water, and air all are transparent materials. In Figure 1, you can clearly see the straw through the glass on the left.
Translucent Materials
A translucent material (trans loo sunt) scatters light as it passes through. You can usually see something behind a translucent object, but the details are blurred. Waxed paper and a frosted glass like the middle glass in Figure 1 are translucent materials.
Opaque Materials
An opaque material (oh payk) reflects or absorbs all of the light that strikes it. You cannot see through opaque materials because light cannot pass through them. Wood, metal, and tightly woven fabric all are opaque materials. You cannot see the straw through the white glass in Figure 1 because the glass is opaque.
To understand why objects have different colors, you need to know how light can interact with an object. When light strikes an object, the light can be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. Think about a pair of sunglasses. If you hold the sunglasses in your hand, you can see light that reflects off the lenses. If you put the sunglasses on, you see light that is transmitted by the lenses. The lenses also absorb some light. That is why objects appear darker when seen through the lenses.
Lenses, like all objects, are made of one or more materials. Most materials can be classified as transparent, translucent, or opaque based on what happens to light that strikes the material.
Transparent Materials
A transparent material transmits most of the light that strikes it. The light passes right through without being scattered. This allows you to see clearly what is on the other side. Clear glass, water, and air all are transparent materials. In Figure 1, you can clearly see the straw through the glass on the left.
Translucent Materials
A translucent material (trans loo sunt) scatters light as it passes through. You can usually see something behind a translucent object, but the details are blurred. Waxed paper and a frosted glass like the middle glass in Figure 1 are translucent materials.
Opaque Materials
An opaque material (oh payk) reflects or absorbs all of the light that strikes it. You cannot see through opaque materials because light cannot pass through them. Wood, metal, and tightly woven fabric all are opaque materials. You cannot see the straw through the white glass in Figure 1 because the glass is opaque.
