gsal said:This does not happen to ANY wet materials...you immediately narrowed this down to thin, very porous materials like paper and cloth...
dotancohen said:Many materials, such as paper and cloth, are transparent when wet. Of course I understand that water is transparent, but why does a non-transparent material become transparent when something is _added_ to it? If there is some material that blocks the path of the photons, how does adding yet another layer make it suddenly not block them?
Wet materials appear transparent because when light hits the surface of the material, it enters the material and then travels through it. The material allows light to pass through it without scattering or absorbing it, which makes it appear transparent to our eyes.
Water is transparent because it is a polar molecule, which means it has a positive and negative end. When light hits water, the polar molecules align and absorb certain wavelengths of light, allowing other wavelengths to pass through and making water appear transparent.
No, not all wet materials are transparent. Some materials have a different molecular structure that causes them to scatter or absorb light, making them appear opaque or translucent when wet.
Yes, some materials may appear transparent when wet but become opaque or translucent when dry. This is because the water that was filling the gaps between molecules has evaporated, causing the molecules to come closer together and altering their ability to transmit light.
Wet materials may appear darker because the water on the surface can cause light to be absorbed or scattered, making the material appear darker or less transparent. This effect can also be influenced by the color and thickness of the material.