Question

plants appear green because they do not absorb the green wavelengths of light. what happens to those green light waves when they hit a plant?
○ they are diffracted.
○ they are absorbed.
○ they are reflected.
○ they are refracted.

Explanation:

To determine what happens to green light waves hitting a plant, we analyze each option:

• Diffraction involves light bending around obstacles, not related to color perception here.
• Absorption is ruled out as the question states plants don't absorb green wavelengths.
• Reflection: The color we see of an object is the light it reflects. Since plants appear green, they reflect green light (don't absorb it), so this matches.
• Refraction is the bending of light through a medium, not related to color appearance from unabsorbed light.

Answer:

C. They are reflected.