Question

Some terms referring to the observation of light include emission spectrum and absorption spectrum. Based on these definitions, what would a reflection spectrum describe?

a) The spectrum of light absorbed by a material.

b) The spectrum of light emitted by a material.

c) The spectrum of light reflected by a material.

d) The spectrum of light transmitted through a material.

Answer 1

A reflection spectrum describes the spectrum of light reflected by a material, including instances of selective reflection of certain wavelengths.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing the interaction of light with matter, we come across the term reflection spectrum, which relates to the way light waves are reflected off a substance. Unlike the emission spectrum, which shows the light that is emitted by a material, or the absorption spectrum, which shows the light absorbed by a material, a reflection spectrum refers to the light that is reflected. Considering the options provided, the correct description for a reflection spectrum would be (c) The spectrum of light reflected by a material.

This encompasses scenarios where incident light waves are reflected in a selective manner, meaning only certain wavelengths are reflected while others may be absorbed or transmitted. It is important to note that a reflection spectrum could range from a perfectly reflective surface, akin to a mirror that would reflect all incident light, to something with selective reflectivity that might only reflect certain wavelengths, thus coloring the reflected light.