From: Jhumki Basu (sjbasu@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Apr 18 2001 - 13:55:51 PDT
From: "Jhumki Basu" <sjbasu@hotmail.com> Subject: Opaque and Transparent Materials Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 13:55:51 Message-ID: <F80sebmspH2q6DqaJY40000a6cb@hotmail.com>
In Paul Hewitt's book, he says that when light oscillates electrons in a
medium at frequencies other than their natural frequency, the vibration of
the electrons is small. The atom, therefore, holds the light energy for very
little time and does not have time to collide with other atoms. So light
energy is not absorbed as heat, but is instead re-emmitted as light. This is
how he explains why objects are transparent.
A student of mine is not convinced. She thinks this explanation only works
if she pretends that an electron is oscillated only one time by a light
wave/photon. But in reality, light shining on glass is continuously
oscillating electrons in the glass, so the electrons are constantly being
re-supplied with energy even if they are losing energy quickly, so they
should have plenty of time to collide and transfer energy into heat.
I didn't have much to say to her. I guess I'm looking for another
explanation of why objects absorb and are transparent to light. Any
suggestions?
Thanks!
Jhumki Basu
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