Chapter Objectives

1. Explain what phenomena can occur with light radiation as it passes from one medium into another.
2. Discuss why metallic materials are opaque to visible light.
3. Explain what determines the color of metallic materials.
4. Briefly describe the phenomenon of superconductivity.
5. Explain why amorphous materials are usually transparent.
6. Briefly describe the construction of a ruby laser.
7. Describe the mechanism of photon absorption for a semiconductor that contains electrically active defects.
8. Explain what laser means.
9. Briefly describe the advantages of hightemperature oxide superconductors.
10. Cite distinctions between opacity, translucency, and transparency.