Light travels in water and not through opaque objects?

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In summary, light travels through water and glass because these materials allow some photons to pass through without being absorbed. However, opaque materials, like walls and floors, absorb incoming photons and become warmer. Glass is able to transmit visible light because the atomic composition of the material makes it less likely for photons to be absorbed and kick electrons into higher energy states. This is due to the energy bands in solids, rather than discrete energy levels.
  • #1
Christian Grey
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I want to know, why does light travel through water, glass etc and does not travel through opaque objects like wall, floor etc?
 
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  • #2
Opaque materials are absorbing the incoming photons, (and in doing so the material becomes slightly warmer).
Transparent materials allow some photons to pass through without being absorbed, but no material is perfectly transparent, if it is made thick enough an appreciable amount of photons still are absorbed.
 
  • #3
rootone said:
Opaque materials are absorbing the incoming photons, (and in doing so the material becomes slightly warmer).
Transparent materials allow some photons to pass through without being absorbed, but no material is perfectly transparent, if it is made thick enough an appreciable amount of photons still are absorbed.
Why does glass doesn't absorb photons whereas opaque materials do?
 
  • #4
While glass has transparency for visible light, it is opaque for UV light.
The reason why glass and some other materials permit some photons to pass through is because due the atomic composition of the material, the incoming photon has less liklyhood of being energetic enough to kick an electron into a higher energy state, (ie it is less likely to be absorbed).
 
  • #5
Christian Grey said:
Why does glass doesn't absorb photons whereas opaque materials do?
have a look at this video ...
 
  • #6
davenn said:
have a look at this video ...
The explanation is a bit too simple in the clip. He is talking in terms of discrete Energy Levels when they don't actually exist in condensed matter. There are Energy Bands in solids and not states. It would have been better to have said that, in a transparent substance, the next highest band is too high in energy for the electron to become excited into it.
Discrete energy states only occur in isolated atoms (in low pressure gases, aamof)
 

Related to Light travels in water and not through opaque objects?

What is the reason for light traveling through water but not through opaque objects?

The reason for light traveling through water is that water is a transparent medium, meaning that light can pass through it without being scattered or absorbed. On the other hand, opaque objects have a dense structure that does not allow light to pass through, causing it to either be reflected or absorbed.

Why does light appear to slow down when traveling through water?

Light does not actually slow down when traveling through water. It still travels at the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. However, it appears to slow down because it is constantly being absorbed and re-emitted by the water molecules, which creates a delay in its overall speed.

How does the angle of light affect its ability to travel through water?

The angle of light does not have a significant effect on its ability to travel through water. However, when light enters water at an angle, it changes direction due to refraction, which is the bending of light as it passes through a medium with a different density. This can make it appear as though the light is traveling slower, as it is taking a longer path through the water.

Can light travel through all types of water equally?

Yes, light can travel through all types of water equally, whether it is fresh water, salt water, or even murky water. However, the amount of light that is able to pass through may vary depending on the clarity and density of the water. Clear water will allow more light to pass through compared to cloudy or dirty water.

Is there any difference in the speed of light when traveling through different depths of water?

No, the speed of light remains constant regardless of the depth of the water. However, the intensity of the light may decrease as it travels deeper due to the absorption and scattering of light by the water molecules. This is why objects appear less visible or even darker when submerged in deep water.

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