small and intermittent ( not large and not regular ). The vibrational energy is then reemitted as a light wave .
As the atoms vibrate and interact with their neighbouring atoms , this vibrational energy is converted to thermal energy ( atoms collide into neighboring atoms , dissipating their vibrational energy throughout the object , making the object hot ). In this way , the light wave is absorbed by the object , and released in the form of heat , never again to be released in the form of light .
Transmission : If the object is transparent , then the vibrations of the electrons are passed from atom to atom through the object and reemitted on the opposite side of the object .
So the selective absorption of light by an object occurs because the frequency of the light wave matches the frequency at which the electrons in the atoms of that object vibrate . Since objects are made up of different atoms and electrons , each with different natural frequencies of vibration , they will selectively absorb different frequencies of visible light .
Reflection & Transmission The reflection and transmission of light waves occur because the frequencies of the light waves do not match the natural frequencies of vibration of the electrons in the atoms of the object . In this case , when a light wave hits an object , the electrons in the atoms of the object will vibrate but the vibrations will be
Reflection : If the object is opaque , then the vibrations of the electrons are not passed from atom to atom through the object . Instead , the electrons on the object ’ s surface vibrate for short periods of time and then reemitt the energy as a reflected light wave .