What happens when light passes through matter?
2007-06-14 03:57:08 · 14 answers · asked by Sam 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The wierdes thin that happen is that is slows down.
If you send light through a prism this separates the lights into different wavelengths.
This is like marching a group of straight line soldiers into mud at an angle. As the first soldiers hit the mud they will slow down. Then the second will also, untill the whole regiment is spread out and going a different direction.
2007-06-14 04:04:18 · answer #1 · answered by Asclepius 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, much like sound, it slows down. How much depends on the media it's traveling through. Light will travel faster through air, then through glass, or water.
However, unlike sound, when light travels through multiple medians it changes velocities accordingly. For example, light from the sun slows down when it gets to our atmosphere, and then again when it gets to a window in your house, but when it gets to the other side of the glass and is traveling through the air in your house, it accelerates.
2007-06-14 11:06:22 · answer #2 · answered by B_O_C_K_S_C_A_R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It refracts, meaning the direction of the light will change as it passes from one medium to another, like air into glass, or water.
2007-06-14 11:01:36 · answer #3 · answered by Postman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends upon the kind(s) of interactions the photon(s) have with the matter involved. It could be reflected, refracted, or absorbed. Or a bit of all three âº
Doug
2007-06-14 11:03:16 · answer #4 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what kind of matter. If it's solid, then it won't pass through. But if it's liquid, then it'll pass through somehow, depending on the density of the liquid. You know... stuff like that.
2007-06-14 11:00:00 · answer #5 · answered by boyhukas 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depending on how opaque that object is, light will either be absorbed, refracted, or reflected in a certain ratio.
2007-06-14 10:59:29 · answer #6 · answered by Nitro Pipes 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it can pass through it slows down.
2007-06-17 16:47:31 · answer #7 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the characteristics of the material. In transparent
matter it slows down.
2007-06-14 10:59:40 · answer #8 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It changes speed and depending on the coefficient of refraction may change direction
2007-06-14 10:59:45 · answer #9 · answered by Mike C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its refracted away from the normal in perspex.. if the object is dense it will be absorbed
2007-06-14 11:00:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋