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Why does the color black absorb and white reflects the sun?

Think of both as shades of gray. You know that the darker the surface, the less light is getting to your eyes & the brighter it is the more light that's getting to you.
What you see (from everything but lights and the sun) is reflected light.:
the sun --> object --> eye.
Thus, if an object appears bright then most of the light must have been reflected.
Likewise, if it appears dark then most of the light must have been absorbed.

If something was "completely" black it would absorb all light - but then you couldn't see it.

Likewise, white must absorb some light, or else it would be a mirror.

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First answer by Johnellishartford. Last edit by Johnellishartford. Contributor trust: 512 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question].

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