4-5.4 Compare how light behaves when it strikes transparent, translucent, and opaque materials.
Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque Materials
Essential Question: How does light behave when it strikes transparent, translucent, and opaque materials?
Light acts differently when it strikes different materials. Light passes straight through some materials. Light is scattered as it passes through other materials. Light may be blocked altogether when it strikes still other materials.
Transparent Materials
A transparent material is one that lets light pass straight through it because it is not absorbed or reflected. Objects can be seen clearly when viewed through transparent materials. That is why you can clearly see a bird or a tree through your window. Glass, air, and water are transparent materials.
Translucent Materials
A translucent material scatters or absorbs light that strikes it and allows some of the light to pass through it. You cannot see objects clearly through translucent materials. Objects appear as blurry shapes.
Bathroom windows are often made of frosted glass. It lets light through but scatters the light so you cannot see clear images. Waxed paper is also a translucent material.
Opaque Materials
An opaque material does not let any light pass through it. It absorbs or reflects all the light that strikes it. An opaque object makes a shadow when light shines on it. A brick, a piece of aluminum foil, a thick sheet of paper, and a piece of wood are all opaque objects. So are you!
Essential Question: How does light behave when it strikes transparent, translucent, and opaque materials?
Light acts differently when it strikes different materials. Light passes straight through some materials. Light is scattered as it passes through other materials. Light may be blocked altogether when it strikes still other materials.
Transparent Materials
A transparent material is one that lets light pass straight through it because it is not absorbed or reflected. Objects can be seen clearly when viewed through transparent materials. That is why you can clearly see a bird or a tree through your window. Glass, air, and water are transparent materials.
Translucent Materials
A translucent material scatters or absorbs light that strikes it and allows some of the light to pass through it. You cannot see objects clearly through translucent materials. Objects appear as blurry shapes.
Bathroom windows are often made of frosted glass. It lets light through but scatters the light so you cannot see clear images. Waxed paper is also a translucent material.
Opaque Materials
An opaque material does not let any light pass through it. It absorbs or reflects all the light that strikes it. An opaque object makes a shadow when light shines on it. A brick, a piece of aluminum foil, a thick sheet of paper, and a piece of wood are all opaque objects. So are you!
Learning Task #1:
Students will use transparent, translucent, and opaque “viewers” along with flashlights to compare how light travels through those materials. The viewers are made by cutting a rectangular hole through index cards, and taping aluminum foil (opaque), wax paper (translucent), and plastic wrap (transparent) over the holes. Students will then conduct a scavenger hunt around the room to find items that are transparent, translucent, or opaque, using their flashlight to test items. Learning Task #2: Show Me App Formative Assessment: Illustrate how light behaves when it strikes transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. Learning Task #3: Padlet Entry: What happens when light strikes a translucent object? Use evidence to support your claim. Learning Task #4 Properties of Light - Connect 4! |
Resources:
Capstone eBook: ● The Illuminating World of Light with Max Axiom, Super Scientist ABDO e-Book: ● Light and Dark Techbook Resources: ● Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque Video Segment |