Translucent materials allow partial transmission of light rays. Transparent objects appear to be colorless as they do not reflect light. The light is hardly reflected or scattered. Transparent objects can transmit a significant part of the incoming light. The rest of the wavelengths get absorbed or scattered.Ĭommon examples of opaque objects are wood, stone, metals, concrete, etc.ĭifference Between Transparent and Translucent Materialsīoth substances allow light to pass through them. The objects appear as colored because of the reflection of a particular wavelength. Reflection: The incident light rays may get reflected at the surface of an opaque object. Due to cumulative scattering, the energy of the wave can be completely dissipated before the emergence of light from the other side. Scattering: The molecules of the medium can absorb and scatter light in random directions. This process highly reduces the intensity of the incident light. The causes behind opacity are,Ībsorption: The light rays can be absorbed inside the medium. Light rays can penetrate the substances to some depth. Any incident light gets reflected, absorbed, or scattered. Opaque substances do not allow the transmission of light. Some examples of translucent objects are frosted glass, butter paper, tissue, various plastics, and so on. fluctuation in composition) in a crystal structure can give rise to a scattering of light.īoundaries: Grain boundaries (in a polycrystalline structure) and cell boundaries (in an organism) can behave as scattering centers. At the points of fluctuations, the light rays get scattered.Ĭrystallographic Defects: Defects (e.g. Density fluctuations may cause scattering centers. Such density distribution can result in irregular refraction and transmission. Non-uniform Density: If a material has a non-uniform distribution of matter, its density is different at different parts.
Translucency can occur due to the following properties, If any object is seen through a translucent material, the image appears fuzzy or blurred. Consequently, the light rays emerge out at random directions. The light rays get scattered in the interior of such objects. glass) are used for lenses, spherical mirrors, spectacles, and many more.Ī substance is called translucent if it allows partial transmission. Window glasses are transparent in nature. Therefore, a clear image is seen on the other side of the substance. While passing through a transparent object, the amount of scattering is very less. Light rays follow Snell’s law of refraction. Most of the light, incident on a transparent object, transmits through it. The refractive index of transparent substances is nearly uniform. Light rays can pass through these substances. Some examples are oily paper, tissue, some plastics, etc.Ĭomparison Between Transparent, Translucent and Opaque Substances Any object, seen through a translucent material, appears fuzzy or blurred.
A part of the incident light may get reflected or scattered, as it passes through the interior of the material. Translucent materials allow partial transmission of light through them. As a result, light rays cannot pass through opaque materials. Opaque materials either reflect or absorb any incident light. One example of transparent material is pure glass. Any object can be seen through a transparent material. Materials, which allow complete transmission of light, are called transparent. Materials can be classified based on the amount of light they transmit. Definition of Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque Objects