Why some materials reflect light more than others?

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SUMMARY

This discussion explains the principles of light reflection, emphasizing that all surfaces reflect light waves, but the degree of reflectivity varies significantly. A perfectly flat and reflective surface, like a mirror, produces clear reflections of incident light waves. In contrast, a surface that is uneven or coated with a substance like peanut butter scatters light, resulting in diffused reflections. The key takeaway is that surface texture and material composition directly influence the clarity and quality of light reflections.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles, particularly light behavior.
  • Familiarity with the concept of incident and reflected waves.
  • Knowledge of surface textures and their impact on light reflection.
  • Awareness of materials and their optical properties.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the physics of light reflection and refraction.
  • Explore the impact of surface texture on light scattering.
  • Study materials with high reflectivity, such as silver and aluminum.
  • Investigate applications of reflective materials in optics and design.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, materials scientists, optical engineers, and anyone interested in the properties of light and its interaction with different surfaces.

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why some materials reflect light more than others?
 
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_(physics)"

The first part of this article is very exact in the explanation that light waves will reflect off of every surface they come in contact with; however, unless a surface is perfectly or nearly perfectly reflective, the light waves will return as simply diffused reflections of the energy.

For example, say I have a mirror that is totally flat and absolutely reflective. When I look at it, I see the reflection of whatever light waves are hitting upon it -those are the incident waves. I am seeing the resultant or reflection waves. Now, if I take the same mirror and coat it with peanut butter, I have a much less reflective surface. The light waves hitting it are still the same, however they are now being tossed and mixed about because the surface is granular and no longer flat. The energy (light) is still reflecting off of it, just not in the same clear manner that the original mirror reflected it.
 
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