Question

When an electromagnetic wave such as light interacts with a solid and polarizes the electron clouds within the atomic structure of that solid, what are the (2) primary consequences of this interaction

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Absorption or Emission of the light

2. Light induced changes in the matter  

Explanation:

When an electromagnetic wave such as light interacts with solid, two consequences are for sure:

1. Absorption or Emission of the light

2. Light induced changes in the matter

When light travels through the solid, the intensity of light decreases as a result of addition of light energy to the body to which it interacts. If the medium or body to which light interacts is low in absorbing due to its atomic structure inside then light passing through it will show it. On the contrary, if a material is high in absorbing, very less intensive light will travel out.

Moreover, there will ionization of the atoms inside the medium to which light interacts. As light carries energy and when it interacts with atoms of the body, atoms gets energy and excited or de-excited accordingly.

Hence, above are the two primary consequences of this interaction.