When a yellow light is shined on a white surface, why does the surface look yellow instead of white? A. Only yellow light is available to be absorbed from the white surface. B. White only reflects yellow. C. White reflects all colors. D. Only yellow light is available to be reflected from the white surface. Reset Submit

Question

Physics

Callum

6 March, 20:51

When a yellow light is shined on a white surface, why does the surface look yellow instead of white? A. Only yellow light is available to be absorbed from the white surface. B. White only reflects yellow. C. White reflects all colors. D. Only yellow light is available to be reflected from the white surface. Reset Submit

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Sylvia Lambert · Answer 1

A white object reflects almost all of the visible light shone on it, black "absorbs" almost all of the visible light spectrum shown on it. The white object under the yellow light will reflect yellow light back to your eye, as will the yellow object.