6 3
DESCRIBE WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN LIGHT
HITS A TRANSPARENT OR
TRANSLUCENT OBJECT
At the end of the lesson, the
learners should be able to describe
what happens when light hits a
transparent or translucent object.
Reflects or Does Not Reflect.
Metal spoon → __________________
Paper→ ____________________
Look at the two cars.
Which car would you like to ride on
a long day drive? Why?”
In this lesson, you will observe what
happens to light when it hits a
transparent and a translucent
object.”
Read and use the following terms:
●Pass through
●Scatter
●Block
●Transparent
●Translucent
When something can pass through,
it can go through the object.
Show what happens when you throw
small pieces of paper in one hand or
drop a handful of coins.
When the papers are thrown, they
“scatter” as they fall to the ground.
Similarly, the coins “scatter” as they
reach the ground.
Have you watched or played
basketball. What does a blocker do
during the game?
The blocker blocks the ball to
prevent the shooter from scoring.
They block to ball so it will not reach
the basket
Car 1 is a transparent object while
the glass window of Car 2 is a
translucent object.
A transparent object is see-through
so light can pass through it, unlike a
translucent object, which blocks off
some of the light from passing
through it.
Activity 3: What happens when
light hits a transparent or
translucent object?
Activity Objective: In this activity,
the learners will describe what
happens to light when it hits a
transparent or translucent object.
Materials Needed:
● two (2) pieces of cardboard with a
square hole in the middle
●clear plastic sheet ●wax paper
●two (2) clothespins ●water
●two (2) glass bottles with lids,
●baking powder ●spoon
●small flashlight ●crayons
Instructions:
[Link] plastic sheet vs. Wax paper
[Link] the plastic sheet between the
two cardboards with square holes as
shown in Figure 1.
[Link] the clothespin to the bottom of
the cardboard to make it stand.
3. Place the cardboard with the
plastic sheet in front of a white wall.
4. Switch on the flashlight and point
it at the clear plastic sheet. Observe
what happens to the light when it
hits the plastic sheet.
5. Look at the wall behind the
cardboard. Using crayons, draw what
you see on the wall behind the
plastic sheet in Table 1.
[Link] the plastic sheet to wax
paper and repeat Steps 1-5.
Guide Questions
Q1. Which material (clear plastic
sheet or wax paper) allowed the light
to pass through?
Q2. Was there a difference in the light
that passed through each material? If
yes, how are they different?
Q3. What does this tell us about the
amount of light that passes through
each material?
Q4. Which material (clear plastic sheet
or wax paper) allowed a greater amount
of light to pass through it, and why?
B. Water vs. Water with baking powder
7. Fill the two (2) jars with water until
they are almost full.
8. Label the Jars, A and B.
9. Cover Jar A with its lid.
10. Using a spoon, add baking powder
to Jar B, little by little, until the water
becomes cloudy. Stir to mix thoroughly.
11. Cover Jar B with its lid.
12. Place Jar A in front of a wall.
13. Switch on the flashlight and point it
at the water as shown in Figure 2.
14. Observe what happens to the light
as it hits the water.
15. Look at the wall behind Jar A. Using
crayons, draw what you see on the wall
behind Jar A in Table 2.
16. Replace Jar A with Jar B and repeat
Steps 12-15 Make sure to shake Jar B
first to mix its contents.
Guide Questions:
Q5. In which material, Jar A (clear water)
or Jar B (cloudy water), allowed light to
pass through?
Q6. Was there a difference in the light
that passed through each material? If
yes, how are they different?
Q7. What does this tell us about the
amount of light that passes through
each material? Q8. Which material
(clear water or cloudy water) allowed a
greater amount of light to pass through
it, and why?
Q9. How are transparent and translucent
materials different?”
Which material (clear plastic sheet
or wax paper) allowed the light to
pass through?
Both materials allowed light to
pass through them.
Was there a difference in the light
that passed through each material?
If yes, how are they different?
Yes. The light that passed
through the clear plastic sheet
was brighter and clearer
compared to the light that
passed through the wax paper,
What does this tell us about the
amount of light that passes through
each material?
The amount of light that passes
through each material is
different.
Which material (clear plastic sheet
or wax paper) allowed a greater
amount of light to pass through it,
and why?
The clear plastic sheet allowed
more light to pass through it
compared to the wax paper.
In which material, Jar A (clear water)
or Jar B (cloudy water), allowed light
to pass through?
Both materials allowed light to
pass through them.
Was there a difference in the light
that passed through each material?
If yes, how are they different?
Yes. The light that passed
through the clear water was
brighter and clearer compared
to the light that passed through
the cloudy water, which was
What does this tell us about the
amount of light that passes through
each material?
The amount of light that passes
through each material is
different.
Which material (clear water or
cloudy water) allowed a greater
amount of light to pass through it,
and why?
The clear water allowed more
light to pass through it
compared to the cloudy water.
How are transparent and translucent
materials different?
Transparent materials allow
most or all the light to pass
through, while translucent
materials allow a small amount
of light to pass through.
Why do you think the light that
passes through these materials is
dim and blurry?”
The light is scattered in the
cloudy water, which causes the
light that passes through it to
be dim and blurry.]
How can you identify if a material is
transparent, translucent, or opaque?
If the light that passes through is
clear and bright, then the material
is transparent. If the light that
passes through is dim and blurry,
then the material is translucent.
And if no light passes through the
Classify these into transparent
and translucent objects:
●Eyeglasses
●Sunshades
●Tissue paper
●Parchment paper
●Clear drinking glasses
●Clear plastic bags
●Colored plastic bags
●Colored cellophane
Your parents are deciding
whether to use clear or frosted
windows in your house.
As a science student,
1. can you describe to them what
happens when light hits each kind of
window?
2. which kind of window would you
recommend to your parents?
Answers:
1. The clear glass window is a
transparent object, while the frosted
glass window is a translucent object.
When light hits a transparent object,
the light completely passes through it,
so the light is brighter and clearer. Only
a portion of the light that hits a
translucent object can pass through it.
2. It depends. If the parents want
the house to be bright and well-lit
during the day, they should use a
clear glass window. If they don't
want the house to be too bright
during the day, they should use a
frosted glass window.
What is the difference between
transparent and translucent
objects?”
Transparent objects allow all the
light that hits them to pass through,
while translucent objects allow some
of the light to pass through.
Choose the correct answer.
1. When light hits a transparent
object, most of the light:
a. is blocked
b. passes through
c. bounces off
d. disappears
2. When light hits a translucent
object, the light:
a. passes through clearly
b. cannot pass through
c. passes through but is scattered
d. creates a dark shadow
3. Which of the following is an
example of a transparent object?
a. frosted glass
b. plastic bottle
c. clear glass jar
d. wax paper
4. Which of these is translucent?
a. mirror
b. clear window
c. tissue paper
d. metal lid
5. When light passes through a
translucent material, the image
looks:
a. clear
b. blurred or unclear
c. very dark
d. shiny
Look for one transparent object
and one translucent object at
home.
Write them below and describe
what happens to light when it hits
each.
Transparent object:
___________________
What happened to the light?
__________________
Translucent object:
____________________
What happened to the light?
____________________
