An opaque object...

An opaque object...

• A. Does not allow any light to pass through.
• B. Allows all light to pass through.
• C. Transmits light without changing direction.
• D. Emit light on its own.

Answer: (A)

The thing being tested is whether an opaque object blocks light from passing through. Opaque materials do not let light travel from one side to the other; instead, the light is absorbed or reflected off the surface. That’s why you can’t see through an opaque object—you only see its surface and, depending on what wavelengths are reflected, you perceive its color. Shining light on an opaque object is like shining a flashlight at a brick wall: none of the light goes through to the other side, you just see the wall because some light is reflected back to your eyes. The other descriptions describe materials that let light pass through (transparent) or objects that emit light themselves (luminous), which aren’t what opaque means.

The thing being tested is whether an opaque object blocks light from passing through. Opaque materials do not let light travel from one side to the other; instead, the light is absorbed or reflected off the surface. That’s why you can’t see through an opaque object—you only see its surface and, depending on what wavelengths are reflected, you perceive its color.

Shining light on an opaque object is like shining a flashlight at a brick wall: none of the light goes through to the other side, you just see the wall because some light is reflected back to your eyes. The other descriptions describe materials that let light pass through (transparent) or objects that emit light themselves (luminous), which aren’t what opaque means.