Discover the Magic of Light and Windshields
What happens to light as it hits the windshield of a car?
a) It is absorbed by the windshield
b) It is reflected off the windshield
c) It passes through the windshield
d) It splits into different colors as it passes through the windshield
Final answer:
Light hitting a car's windshield primarily undergoes transmission, meaning most of the light passes through the glass; some light may also be reflected, and a small amount absorbed, but the colors do not change as they would with a prism.
Explanation:
When light travels from one medium to another, there are several interactions that can occur: transmission, reflection, and absorption. Specifically, when light hits the windshield of a car, it primarily undergoes transmission, meaning the light passes through the windshield. This is due to the transparency of the glass, which allows light to be transmitted. However, some of the light can also be reflected off the surface, and a very small amount may be absorbed. The absorption and reflection by the windshield do not typically change the colors of the transmitted light in the same way as a prism would through dispersion. Therefore, the predominant interaction is transmission, seeing that windshields are designed to allow visibility while driving.