Basically, some materials can be opaque to light, but not to other types of electromagnetic waves. The book cover, brick, and other such solid things are all opaque in nature. For example, wood, stone, and metals are opaque to visible light. Most of the light that passes through opaque objects is either reflected by the object or absorbed and converted to thermal energy. Opaque objects block light and do not allow it to travel through them. As translucent objects let some light rays pass through them but not all. The details will not be easily discernible.

If someone crosses a foggy window, you may be able to say that it’s a person but you can’t tell who or sometimes even what it is. Also, the objects on the other side of a translucent object appear fuzzy and unclear.įor instance, imagine a fogged-up glass window. That’s the reason we cannot see clearly through them. The light changes direction many times and is scattered as it passes through a translucent object. As if the light does not pass directly through the materials. When light strikes translucent materials, only some amount of light passes through the material. For example, frosted glass and some plastics. Translucent objects allow some light to pass through them but partially. Translucent objects come in between opaque and transparent materials. This is because the light rays emitting from the torch pass through that transparent object. For instance, if you switched on a torch and let the light pass through the glass window, you can still see the light on the other side of the glass surface.

Glass is transparent to all visible light, water, and even air.

When light run across transparent materials, almost all of it passes directly through them. Materials like air, water, and clear glass are transparent. Transparent objects allow light to pass through them. 2 FAQs on Transparent, Translucent and Opaque What are Transparent Objects?

Materials that are translucent