5.52. Visible Light and Matter http://www.ck12.org
by matter. The temperature of matter increases with the added energy.- Matter can be classified as transparent, translucent, or opaque depending on how it interacts with light.
Vocabulary
- absorption: Interaction of light with matter in which the particles of matter absorb light energy so light neither
reflects from nor passes through matter. - opaque: Referring to matter that does not allow visible light to pass through it because it reflects or absorbs
all of the light. - scattering: Process in which transmitted light is spread out in all directions by particles of matter.
- translucent: Referring to matter that transmits but scatters visible light.
- transmission: Process in which light passes through matter.
- transparent: Referring to matter that allows all visible light to pass through.
Explore More
Make a word search or criss-cross puzzle using the vocabulary terms in this article. You can use the free puzzle
maker at the following URL. Exchange puzzles with a classmate and try to solve each other’s puzzles. http://www.d
iscoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/?CFID=2476446&CFTOKEN=27024543
Review
- Describe three ways that light can interact with matter.
- Transmitted light may be refracted or scattered. When does each process occur?
- Why does matter increase in temperature when it absorbs light?
- Compare and contrast transparent, translucent, and opaque matter.