AQA GCSE Transparent, Translucent and Opaque(Physics)
Transparent
A transparent material can transmit light all the way through the material.
Examples of transparent materials include: Air, water, Quartz crystal and glass
In the diagram below, the sheet of glass is acting as a transparent material, it allows the light ray from the torch to pass directly through the glass.
Translucent
A translucent material will allow some light to pass through the object, but the light is scattered or refracted as it passes through the material.
Examples of translucent materials include frosted glass, wax paper, tracing paper.
Below is an image showing what happens to light rays when they try to pass through a translucent material.
Opaque
Opaque objects do not allow light to pass through them
Examples: Brick, concrete, wood.
In the diagram below an incident light ray is striking an opaque object (concrete). No light is transmitted.
In this case, no light is reflected either. However, some opaque objects can also reflect light.
Practice Question
1.Describe the following terms
a.Transparent
b.Translucent
c.Opaque
2. Explain how frosted glass windows prevent a person from seeing clearly through the glass.
3. Would colourless jelly be classed as transparent, translucent or opaque?
Absorption and Emission of EM Radiation
JJ Thomson and Plum pudding model
Ernest Rutherford and the Nuclear Model
Niels Bohr changing the Nuclear Model
Discovering the Proton and Neutron
Measuring radiation from radioactivity
Radiation types and properties
Random nature of radioactive decay
Radioactive contamination or irradiation
Hazards of contamination and irradiation
Studies on the effects of radiation on humans
Different half lives of radioactive isotopes
Nuclear Fission Chain Reaction
Writing nuclear fission equations
Drawing ray diagrams for a concave lens
Drawing Ray Diagram to produce a virtual image for a convex lens
Drawing ray diagram to produce a real image for a convex lens.
Specular and Diffuse Reflection
Seeing Coloured Objects Part 2
Viewing objects through coloured filters
Transparent, Translucent and Opaque
Accordion Content
Accordion Content