Reflected materials

Some things reflect light better than others

Some materials reflect light better than others. Things that reflect more light are lighter and brighter, for example, pale, bright colours like white and yellow. Dark colours absorb light and don't reflect as much.

As well as having different colours, materials can have different surfaces. Very smooth surfaces are shiny, but rough surfaces are not. Smooth surfaces look shiny because they reflect light in a regular way. Very smooth surfaces can look like a mirror because they reflect light rays back in the same order as the light rays arrive.

Choose a material surface from the numbered buttons on the above.