Question

explain what is happening to the various forms of light that would make a hoodie like the one shown in the image appear black. be sure to account for all colors and to include the proper vocabulary words from this unit.

Explanation:

When light hits the black hoodie, the hoodie's material absorbs all visible light wavelengths (corresponding to all colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). It does not reflect any of these light wavelengths back to our eyes. Since color perception depends on reflected light (objects appear a color when they reflect that wavelength and absorb others; black is the absence of reflected visible light as all is absorbed), the hoodie appears black. Key vocabulary: absorption (of all visible light), reflection (none of visible light is reflected), visible light spectrum (the range of light we can see, with different wavelengths for different colors).

Answer:

The black hoodie appears black because it absorbs all wavelengths of visible light (corresponding to all colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) and reflects none of these visible light wavelengths back to the eye. Since color is perceived from reflected light (e.g., a red object reflects red light and absorbs others), the absence of reflected visible light (due to total absorption) makes the hoodie appear black.