Daniel B. answered • 07/19/24
Tutor
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A retired computer professional to teach math, physics
A common mechanism for reflecting light involves free electrons in a metal.
The electromagnetic radiation, which is light, causes free electrons
to oscilate at the same frequency, which then generates the reflected light.
However, light reflection is never perfect.
Some of the energy of the incident light gets converted into heat,
instead of being reflected.
For example, a red object reflects light with the red frequency,
and absorbs other frequencies.
Daniel B.
tutor
The answer depends on what you mean by "do".
When you kick a rock, the rock flies away.
A nearby bird may fly away.
A distance airplane may fly away.
Philosophers discuss whether the bird flew away of his own volition.
But there is no question that the rock and the airplane did not
do anything on their own.
They changed position due to external forces.
The only thing an object can "do" is to change position or
other properties when subject to external stimuli.
An object reflecting light does not change its position, but
increases its temperature.
Whether you call that "doing something" depends on your definition of "doing".
The actual act of reflecting light is caused by an electron starting to
oscillate due to incoming light.
Whether you call that "doing something" depends on your definition of "doing".
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07/19/24
Hailey P.
Gotcha. Makes sense. But not doing something on its own. I gotcha. Thank you!
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07/21/24
Hailey P.
So is the object itself doing anything?07/19/24