6.6.2

Radiation & Surface Colour

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Radiation & Surface Colour

Surfaces can either reflect, absorb (take in), or emit (give out) infra-red radiation. Good absorbers (taker inners) of infra-red radiation are usually bad reflectors of infra-red radiation.

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White surfaces

  • White surfaces are good reflectors of infra-red radiation.
  • White surfaces are poor emitters and absorbers of infra-red radiation.
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Black surfaces

  • Black surfaces are good emitters, good absorbers and poor reflectors.
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Shiny surfaces

  • Shiny surfaces of a colour are poorer absorbers of radiation than dull surfaces of the same colour.
  • Shiny surfaces are poorer emitters and better reflectors than dull surfaces of the same colour.
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A perfect black body

  • A perfect black body is an object that absorbs all of the radiation incident on it.
  • A black body does not reflect or transmit any radiation.
  • Since a good absorber is also a good emitter, a perfect black body would be the best possible emitter.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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