Is there a material that allows visible light and UV light to pass through?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the inquiry into materials that can transmit both visible light and ultraviolet (UV) light. Participants explore various physical materials and their properties regarding light transmission, including solids and specific types of glass.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the existence of a physical material that allows both visible and UV light to pass through.
  • Air is suggested as a potential medium for transmitting both types of light.
  • Plastics are mentioned as materials that may transmit both visible and UV light.
  • Quartz is proposed as a material that allows both visible light and UV light to pass through.
  • Ordinary window glass is noted to allow UV-A light to pass while blocking most UV-B and UV-C light, with a special coating required to block UV.
  • Participants express curiosity about the possibility of using window glass without a UV-blocking coating.
  • Links to external resources on fused quartz transmission are shared, indicating interest in further information on the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a single material that meets the criteria, and multiple competing views regarding the properties of different materials remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the definitions of materials discussed, such as the distinction between solids and other states of matter, and the specific types of UV light referenced (UV-A, UV-B, UV-C). The discussion also reflects varying levels of knowledge about the properties of glass and plastics.

Furno
Messages
5
Reaction score
1
Is there a material that allows visible light and uv light to pass through?

Edit: A physical material
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
Furno said:
Is there a material that allows visible light and uv light to pass through?
Air?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: robphy and DaveC426913
Is there a physical material that allows both to pass through?
 
You mean a solid? Some plastics can transmit both, I gather. Googling "UV transparent glass" turned up some hits. Why do you want to know?
 
Ibix said:
You mean a solid? Some plastics can transmit both, I gather. Googling "UV transparent glass" turned up some hits. Why do you want to know?
Yes please.
 
Furno said:
Is there a physical material that allows both to pass through?

Quartz
 
hutchphd said:
Quartz
Can visible light pass through quartz as well?
 
Ordinary window glass passes UV. Such glass requires a special coating to block UV.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sophiecentaur
sysprog said:
Ordinary window glass passes UV. Such glass requires a special coating to block UV.
Is there a way to not have the coating?
 
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: PeroK
  • #11
https://technicalglass.com/fused_quartz_transmission/

How hard is that?
 
  • #12
hutchphd said:
https://technicalglass.com/fused_quartz_transmission/

How hard is that?
7
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: sophiecentaur, Bystander and hutchphd
  • #13
hutchphd said:
How hard is that?
Information searches are an acquired skill. It's one of the things that PF can help with.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: hutchphd, Ibix and sysprog

Similar threads

High School Can sunglasses fully protect against UV sensitivity?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
High School UV detection by fluorescent goggles
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Materials that allow IR or UV light to pass through?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
High School Prism Camera Lens: Expanding Visible Light Spectrum?
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
4K
High School Why aren't we getting burned up by light?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
9K
High School Infrared Cameras -- Do they use a Lens to Focus?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Graduate Visualising visible light Fluorescence
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Undergrad Lens Calculations to Focus Light
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Graduate Optical filter that blocks infrared and allows UV?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
9K
High School Light beams and their reflection
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
5K