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Sea Cow
What is it exactly about a surface that makes it reflect or absorb some or all wavelengths of light?
Sea Cow said:What is it exactly about a surface that makes it reflect or absorb some or all wavelengths of light?
Forgive me if I am being thick, but could you explain point 2. more? What is it about the phonon modes? For instance, if a surface just reflects a particular colour, is that because the phonon vibrates at the same frequency as that colour? If so, how does that stop the light from being absorbed?ZapperZ said:1. the presence of conduction electrons
2. the nature of the phonon modes in the material
Zz.
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and that the incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.
The surface of an object can affect its reflectivity in several ways. Smooth, polished surfaces tend to reflect light more uniformly and at a higher intensity than rough, matte surfaces. The type of material also plays a role, as some materials are more reflective than others.
Specular reflection occurs when light bounces off a smooth surface at equal angles, resulting in a clear and well-defined reflection. Diffuse reflection, on the other hand, occurs when light is scattered in different directions by a rough surface, resulting in a less defined reflection.
Yes, the color of an object can affect its reflectivity. Objects that are lighter in color tend to reflect more light than darker objects, as they have a higher albedo (reflectivity) value. However, this also depends on the material and surface of the object.
The angle of incidence can significantly impact the amount of light reflected. When the angle of incidence is perpendicular to the surface, the light is reflected directly back, resulting in a stronger reflection. As the angle of incidence becomes more oblique, the amount of light reflected decreases, and more light is absorbed or transmitted through the object.