What is true about good absorbers of light?

Study for the Earth Science Regents Exam. Dive into flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Prepare confidently for your exam!

Good absorbers of light are indeed also effective radiators of heat. This principle is rooted in the concept of thermal radiation, where objects that absorb light well tend to emit energy effectively when they heat up. The process follows Kirchhoff's Law of Thermal Radiation, which states that a good absorber at a specific wavelength of radiation is also a good emitter at that wavelength. When light is absorbed, energy is transformed into heat, and to maintain thermal equilibrium, the object will then radiate some of that absorbed energy back into the environment.

In contrast, materials that reflect most light do not absorb it efficiently, and therefore would not be effective radiators of heat. Similarly, the idea that good absorbers do not emit heat is inaccurate, as their ability to radiate heat is a direct consequence of their ability to absorb light. Additionally, the existence of good absorbers is not limited to natural environments; they can also be found in artificial settings, demonstrating that they are not exclusive to nature.

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