By Nicholas Guynn
The answer to this question is not as clear as you might think. Most people, including me, when asked, "What color is a mirror?" usually respond with silver. We probably say that because that is how they are portrayed in pictures, but it couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, mirrors take on a very different color altogether.
When light hits a mirror, the beam bounces off the surface without scattering any colors. So in some ways, a mirror's color is pretty much what color(s) are being reflected off of it, But that's too simple and not what you're looking for. You want to know what color the surface of a mirror is.
The answer to this question is not as clear as you might think. Most people, including me, when asked, "What color is a mirror?" usually respond with silver. We probably say that because that is how they are portrayed in pictures, but it couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, mirrors take on a very different color altogether.
When light hits a mirror, the beam bounces off the surface without scattering any colors. So in some ways, a mirror's color is pretty much what color(s) are being reflected off of it, But that's too simple and not what you're looking for. You want to know what color the surface of a mirror is.
Since no mirror on Earth is perfect, they all have to absorb a very small amount of light. This light falls under what we perceive to be as green light. That's right, mirrors are technically green. You can see this by doing a simple experiment involving two mirrors. Face a mirror with another. As the mirror reflects, you'll notice that as things get smaller and darker as the light is being lost, they're also getting greener. It's really neat to see and something worth checking out. You learn something new every day.
Photo Courtesy of: sevenck.com
The answer to this question is not as clear as you might think. Most people, including me, when asked, "What color is a mirror?" usually respond with silver. We probably say that because that is how they are portrayed in pictures, but it couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, mirrors take on a very different color altogether.
When light hits a mirror, the beam bounces off the surface without scattering any colors. So in some ways, a mirror's color is pretty much what color(s) are being reflected off of it, But that's too simple and not what you're looking for. You want to know what color the surface of a mirror is.
The answer to this question is not as clear as you might think. Most people, including me, when asked, "What color is a mirror?" usually respond with silver. We probably say that because that is how they are portrayed in pictures, but it couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, mirrors take on a very different color altogether.
When light hits a mirror, the beam bounces off the surface without scattering any colors. So in some ways, a mirror's color is pretty much what color(s) are being reflected off of it, But that's too simple and not what you're looking for. You want to know what color the surface of a mirror is.
Since no mirror on Earth is perfect, they all have to absorb a very small amount of light. This light falls under what we perceive to be as green light. That's right, mirrors are technically green. You can see this by doing a simple experiment involving two mirrors. Face a mirror with another. As the mirror reflects, you'll notice that as things get smaller and darker as the light is being lost, they're also getting greener. It's really neat to see and something worth checking out. You learn something new every day.
Photo Courtesy of: sevenck.com