How does light pass through matter like glass and plastic to make them transparent?

Question

I can understand how liquids and gasses that are less dense than solids can appear transparent, but how does a solid allow light to pass through?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Glass doesn’t absorb visible light, which is the spectrum of light we see in, so you can see right through it. Just like sunglasses and sunblock both block UV rays, you can see through both of them just fine as well. Same principle.