- #1
- 32
- 0
Is it possible for a surface that reflects all visible light, and absorbs absolutely none to exist, Or would that violate the second law of thermodynamics?
LastTimelord said:Is it possible for a surface that reflects all visible light, and absorbs absolutely none to exist, Or would that violate the second law of thermodynamics?
LastTimelord said:Is it possible for a surface that reflects all visible light, and absorbs absolutely none to exist, Or would that violate the second law of thermodynamics?
Sure, but from an infinitely narrow crossection, so any real light beam will get at least somewhat scattered.DrZoidberg said:Can a black hole send a beam of light back to its source if the beam comes in at the right angle? Without changing the light?
You specified reflectivity at visible wavelengths. However, your question about thermodynamics implies broader conditions. So I think you were asking if it was possible for a mirror that reflects all the energy from electromagnetic waves completely. I don’t think there are any theoretical limits for such reflectivity restricted to the visible wavelengths. However, I would need to examine the Kramers-Kronig relationship more closely to determine if what you say is true restricted to the visible wavelengths.LastTimelord said:Is it possible for a surface that reflects all visible light, and absorbs absolutely none to exist, Or would that violate the second law of thermodynamics?
While it is possible to create a color that appears white to the human eye, it is not possible to create a truly perfect white color. This is because white is a combination of all visible wavelengths of light, and it is impossible to eliminate all wavelengths completely.
The whitest material in existence is called Vantablack, which is a substance made of carbon nanotubes that absorbs 99.965% of light. However, this material is not considered perfect as it still reflects a small amount of light.
No, perfect mirrors do not exist. Even the best mirrors still have some imperfections that cause light to scatter, resulting in a less-than-perfect reflection.
Yes, scientists are constantly working on improving the reflectivity of mirrors by using advanced materials and techniques. However, it is unlikely that we will ever achieve a perfect mirror due to the nature of light and its behavior.
Having perfect white or mirrors may seem like a trivial matter, but it has important applications in fields such as optics, photography, and technology. Perfect white is also used as a reference point in color measurement, and perfect mirrors are crucial in high-precision optical instruments.