Absorption
Definition
Absorption refers to the process in which energy (such as light or sound) is taken in and converted into another form, usually heat. When an object absorbs light, it does not reflect or transmit it.
Analogy
Think about wearing dark-colored clothes on a sunny day. The dark fabric absorbs more sunlight than lighter colors, making you feel warmer because your clothes are converting the energy into heat.
Related terms
Transmission: The process by which energy passes through a material without being absorbed or reflected.
Scattering: The redirection of light or sound waves in different directions due to interactions with particles or irregularities in a medium.
Reflectance: The measure of how much incident light is reflected by an object's surface.
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