läpinävyydän

Läpinävyys, known scientifically as transparency, refers to the physical property of a material that allows light to pass through it without significant scattering. This means that objects viewed through a transparent material can be seen clearly. The degree of transparency can vary; some materials are perfectly transparent, while others are partially transparent, allowing some light to pass through but also scattering it, resulting in a hazy or blurred view.

The phenomenon of transparency is related to the atomic and molecular structure of the material. In transparent materials, light waves can interact with the electrons of the atoms and molecules in such a way that they are re-emitted in the same direction as the incoming light. This occurs when the energy of the light photons does not match the energy differences between electron orbitals in the material, preventing absorption.

Common examples of transparent materials include glass, water, and many clear plastics. These materials are essential in various applications, from windows and lenses to optical instruments and display screens. The absence of transparency, or opacity, occurs when a material absorbs or reflects most of the light that falls on it, preventing it from passing through. Translucency is an intermediate state where light passes through but is scattered, resulting in an unclear image.