So ... when lead melts and is cooled slooooooowly, it becomes transparent just like glass.
No, that can't be right since lead is not even transparent while a liquid.
But, aluminum alloy when coated on lenses is transparent but not when its in a sheet.
Curiouser and curiouser. These electromagnetic properties of elements and molecules just don't want to behave sensibly.
Happy New Year All,
James
At 08:49 AM 12/31/2008 -0500, you wrote:
OK. I found the answer here http://science.howstuffworks.com/question404.htm if anyone else is interested.
Happy New Year!
From: owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [ mailto:owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gregory Fraser
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 8:31 AM
To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students
Subject: Why does light pass through a lens?
Around 2 a.m. tomorrow morning, when you want to prove to that traffic cop that you are in fact not inebriated, explain this to him (or her). Atomically or molecularly, what is it about glass that lets light pass through it? Do photons pass between the glass molecules? Does the glass absorb light energy on one surface and emit it out the opposite surface? What is different between glass and lead that allows the light through glass and not lead?
If you could answer this before 2:00 a.m. tomorrow, I would appreciate it.
Greg
http://ea.nickdorf.f-snet.com
