Cave of the Winds, CO - photons

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    Photons
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of photons in a cave environment when the lights are turned off, specifically addressing what happens to photons in total darkness, their absorption, reflection, and interaction with matter. The scope includes conceptual understanding of light behavior and the physics of absorption and reflection.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes experiencing total darkness and questions where photons go when lights are turned off.
  • Another participant suggests that photons are generally absorbed as heat when the lights are off.
  • A participant inquires about the visibility of photons that bounce off rocks and questions the criteria for absorption versus reflection.
  • It is proposed that the absorption or reflection of photons depends on the color of the material and its absorption spectrum.
  • A later reply explains that when a photon is absorbed, it causes an electron to jump to a higher energy orbital, and this energy is eventually converted into thermal energy of the cave walls.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of understanding about photon behavior, with some agreement on the absorption and reflection processes, but no consensus on the specifics of photon interactions with matter.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of light and material interactions, and the details of the absorption spectrum are not fully explored, leaving some aspects unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the physics of light, material interactions, and conceptual discussions about photons and energy absorption may find this thread informative.

neg entropy
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I was in a cave and they turned all lights off. First time I experienced total darkness. When they turned lights out, where do the photons go?
 
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neg entropy said:
I was in a cave and they turned all lights off. First time I experienced total darkness. When they turned lights out, where do the photons go?

Welcome to PhysicsForums!

Generally, they will be absorbed as heat.
 
OK so the photons are absorbed into the mass of the cave. The photons are flying around, the ones that have a wavelength in the visible range, I can see. So the phtons that bounce off the rocks are the ones i see?

What determines which one get absorbed, and which ones get reflected? Well I guess utimately they all get absorbed? Some just get reflected a few times before getting absorbed?

As the photon approaches the matter- it hits either an electron, an up quark, or down quark. Will you explain what happens next? what do you mean by "absorbed"?
 
neg entropy said:
OK so the photons are absorbed into the mass of the cave. The photons are flying around, the ones that have a wavelength in the visible range, I can see. So the phtons that bounce off the rocks are the ones i see? "
Yes!
neg entropy said:
What determines which one get absorbed, and which ones get reflected? Well I guess utimately they all get absorbed? Some just get reflected a few times before getting absorbed? "
A simple answer would be that the ones get absorbed or reflected depends on the color of the material. A more precise answer would be that it depends on the absorption spectrum of the material, which is a detailed list of the probability of absorption for each wavelength.
neg entropy said:
As the photon approaches the matter- it hits either an electron, an up quark, or down quark. Will you explain what happens next? what do you mean by "absorbed"?
The photon dissapears and its energy makes an electron to jump to a higher energy orbital. This energy is eventually all converted into kinetic energy of the atoms on the wall (thermal energy).
 

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