if water is supposed to be transparent, why does it have a shadow?
In: 0
For one, it’s not perfectly transparent. Totally pure H20 might be, but for the most part there will be some particulate that will absorb light.
Otherwise, even tiny pure water drops can have shadows because of refraction and reflection. The light will bounce off the surface of the drop and be scattered through the middle of it, leaving a shadow on the other side.
Water isn’t transparent, it does have a noticeable affect on light waves passing through it that varies based on the frequency of light (which is why water is “blue”, same as the sky).
Things are seldom, if ever, absolute. This is one of life’s lessons. It is easy to think of things in binary – yes/no, have/don’t have, 0/1, good/bad etc etc. This is simple but misleading. Most things are measured and exist in a spectrum.
Water is transparent enough that we call it “transparent” but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect light at all. It absorbs some, it refracts some and at different angles, it reflects some light etc.
Transparent is a spectrum. You are transparent. Put your hand over a powerful light and you’ll see the light shine through, you’ll even see the shadows of your bones.
Latest Answers