Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 29 - Molecules and Solids - Search and Learn - Page 856: 1

Answer

See work below.

Work Step by Step

As stated in section 29-5, free electrons in metal are able to vibrate at essentially any frequency. When light of a range of frequencies illuminates a metal, the electrons can vibrate in response at any of those frequencies, causing them to re-emit light at the same frequencies. In other words, the reflected light contains roughly the same frequencies as the incident light. The metal appears shiny.
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