Why does a reflected object appear luminous if we only see reflected light?

[Pushoam]

Homework Statement

How to demonstrate that we see colour of an object due to reflection of light?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

We see an object because photons from that object come to our eyes.
The photons from the object comes to us due to radiation or reflection.
If the object is radiating, it will look glowing.
Other way to check radiation is to the object in the darkness and see whether it gives light. If it doesn't then we are sure that we see the object because of the reflection of the light.
If we see a particular color of the object, that means that the object is reflecting that particular color of light.

We see the moon,too, because of the reflection of light.
Then, why does it look luminous, as if it is radiating light?
Put the object in the darkness. We don't see the object in the darkness.

 

[Orodruin]

Then, why does it look luminous

Did you try looking at the Sun in a mirror? (Pro tip, don't) The Moon is bright because it is illuminated by a very strong light source.

 

[Pushoam]

The Moon is bright because it is illuminated by a very strong light source.

This means : An object looks bright implies the no.of photons coming out of the object ( due to radiation or reflection or both) into my eyes is very high. Right?

 

[Orodruin]

At this level, you should not really be talking about photons. Classic electromagnetism will do very nicely. Talking about photons imagining them as small balls is deceptive and very prone to creating an illusion of understanding what a photon is. That the light is bright is due to the energy carried by the EM wave, which relates to its amplitude.

 

[Pushoam]

Thank you.