Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Where do the various colors of light go when an object absorbs them instead of reflecting them?

Usually the energy of the light gets converted into mechanical vibration of the molecules, or in other words, heat.


Sometimes some of the light energy is harnessed to do work - such as by the chlorophyll in a plant's leaves or in a solar cell.Where do the various colors of light go when an object absorbs them instead of reflecting them?
Light radiation is one variant of electro-magnetic energy. When this radiation is absorbed by any object, the object gains that much energy as increased motion of its own atomic particles, i.e. increased heat usually, or increased energy level for the electrons within the atomic particles. The amount of energy thus absorbed by most objects is usually not very great, although ';laser'; action can occur when favourable wavelengths of light are absorbed within a medium such as a ruby crystal.Where do the various colors of light go when an object absorbs them instead of reflecting them?
They get turned into some other form of energy, most often heat. Whatever doesn't get absorbed, gets reflected.





The leaves of plants absorb red and blue light (which they turn into chemical energy), but reflect green light. Photovoltaic panels absorb (and convert to electricity) more blue light than they do red or green, so they appear sort of brown-ish (remember, brown is just very dim yellow or orange).
they are abosrbed by the electrons of the atoms. the energy dissipates by the electrons vibration.

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