Can you see through it?

Can you see through it?

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This task is about whether materials are transparent, opaque, or translucent.
The property of a material can be described as transparent, opaque, or translucent depending on how much visible light passes through it. This can be decided by how clearly and object behind the material is seen e.g., clearly, fuzzy or not seen at all.

Question

Which one of these is transparent?

    • Coloured plastic

    • Clear window glass

    • Frosted window glass

    • Cardboard

    • Aluminium

Give a different example of a transparent material:

Question

Which one of these is most likely to be opaque?

    • Clear glass

    • Paper sheets

    • Clay bricks

    • Cotton material

Give a different example of an opaque material:

Question

Which one of these is translucent?

    • Frosted glass

    • Car windscreen

    • Wood

    • Polished copper

    • Tinfoil

Give a different example of a translucent material:
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Knowledge, Material World
Keywords: 
properties, transparency, opaque, translucency, plastics, glass, metals, fabrics, wood, vocabulary
Description of task: 
Select which materials are transparent, opaque, or translucent. Assessment focus: vocabulary of a material property.
Answers/responses: 
  

Y8 (12/1997)
a) i)
ii)		 B
Any reasonable example of a transparent material, e.g., water.		 easy
moderate
b) i)
ii)		 C
Any reasonable example of an opaque material, e.g., concrete.		 easy
moderate
c) i)
ii)		 A
Any reasonable example of a translucent material, e.g., paper.		 difficult
very difficult
Diagnostic and formative information: 

 

Common errors

c)

Option C was selected by 22% of students.
Option E was selected by 25% of students.