See-through or not

The idea

Light passes almost completely through transparent materials, partially through translucent materials, and not at all through opaque materials.

Three sheets

Imagine holding a sheet of clear glass, a sheet of butter paper and a sheet of cardboard in front of a torch.

Which sheet will let the most light through?

• Clear glass
• Butter paper
• Cardboard

Try each sheet

Pick a sheet and see how much light gets through.

Three kinds of material

Clear glass lets almost all the light pass. Butter paper lets only some light pass. Cardboard lets none pass.

Light passes almost completely through transparent materials, partially through translucent materials, and not at all through opaque materials.

• Material | Light passes | Example
• Transparent | Almost completely | Clear glass
• Translucent | Partially | Butter paper
• Opaque | Not at all | Cardboard

Notes

Light passes almost completely through transparent materials, partially through translucent materials, and not at all through opaque materials.

Check yourself

Light passes partially through a … material.

Light does not pass through cardboard at all. Cardboard is …

Which of these is transparent?

Light passes almost completely through …

• translucent — correct. Yes! Butter paper is an example.
• transparent. Light passes almost completely through a transparent material.
• opaque. Light does not pass through an opaque material at all.
• translucent. Light passes partially through a translucent material.
• opaque — correct. Yes! Light does not pass through an opaque material.
• transparent. Light passes almost completely through a transparent material.
• Butter paper. Butter paper is translucent.
• Cardboard. Cardboard is opaque.
• Clear glass — correct. Yes! Light passes almost completely through it.
• transparent materials — correct. Yes! Clear glass is an example.
• translucent materials. Light passes only partially through these.
• opaque materials. Light does not pass through these at all.