I know this is probably a stupid one here.. But like, isn’t light just photons bouncing around? My lightbulb is firing these photons out when it’s switched on but presumably it’s not sucking them back in when it’s off?
So where da light go?
Also shouldn’t it get brighter the longer the light source is on as there’s more photons?
Where are they all going?
In: Physics
> So where da light go?
absorbed.
> but presumably it’s not sucking them back in when it’s off?
Kinda but not really. Technically, yes, your light bulb is sucking them back. But the complete picture is that everything else in the room also suck it up.
Whenever light hits something, 3 things happen:
1. Absorbed
2. Reflected
3. Transmitted
If you have window or anything transparent (even by a little but), then the light are transmitted (basically goes through), so that’s one way the light are disappearing.
Most surfaces reflect light, but not 100%, not even close. They usually absorb some of the light as well. That’s where the light is going.
I think you are imagining that the light gets 100% reflected by all surfaces, which is not true. In fact, this is why some people are asking questions like, what if you have a room of mirrors, then the light will bounce forever, but no. Even mirror absorbs light.
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