Why do things turn dark when wet?
In: Chemistry
Many people will say to you that it’s bacause light bounces a bit less from a wet rock, and a bit more from a dry one. That’s not true.
When the rock is wet, light does not bounce any “bit less” . It bounces just as much, only, it bounces a bit more in one “favourite” direction, and bit less in all other directions.
If that one favourite direction is right toward your eye, then a lot of bounced light hits your eye, and you see the rock brighter. Did you notice that wet stuff is not only bit darker, but also a lot more shiny? That’s why. When you see the shine, it’s because when you are in the way of all the light bouncing in its favourite direction.
But this means there’s less light bouncing in all other directions. So, whoever is not in the right spot to see the shine, sees the rock a bit darker
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