Understand Whether Materials are Transparent, Translucent or Opaque

Objects all around us are made of different materials. Each material has properties that are unique to them.

 

Some of the properties of materials are terms that are easy to understand.

 

smooth   rough   shiny   breakable   bendy

hard    soft   flexible   dull   stiff

 

Some of the terms are more unusual and we need to learn what they mean.

 

 

Transparent - this means we can see through it, like looking through a glass window.

 

 

Translucent - this means we can see through it but it's not clear, like looking through a plastic bottle.

 

 

Opaque - this means we can not see through it at all. The object is solid, like looking through a piece of cardboard.

 

 

Absorbent - this means that the material will soak up liquid, like a paper towel or a swimming towel.

 

 

Waterproof - this means that the material will repel the water. The water will stay on the surface, like a plastic rain coat.

 

 

We consider the material's properties when choosing what material to use for different objects.

 

Let's practise thinking about the properties of different materials.