Origin: From Latin ab- (away) and sorbere (to suck in/swallow).
Modern Meaning: When one thing takes in another thing and keeps it inside.
In science, absorption is like a sponge for energy! Instead of bouncing off, the energy stays in the object.
When light hits an object, the atoms inside the object start to vibrate. If the frequency of the light matches the "natural" vibration of the atoms, the atoms soak up the energy. This energy usually turns into heat.
Black surfaces absorb almost all the light that hits them. Since no light reflects back to your eyes, it looks dark and feels hot.
White surfaces reflect most light and absorb very little. This is why white clothes keep you cool in the sun!
Mind-Blowing Fact: Scientists have created a material called Vantablack that is so good at absorption that it "swallows" 99.96% of light. Looking at it is like looking into a bottomless hole!
Life on Earth depends on absorption! Inside every green leaf, there is a pigment called chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll's main job is to absorb the energy from sunlight. It specifically likes to absorb red and blue light. The green light isn't absorbed as well, so it bounces off—which is why plants look green to us!
The plant then uses that absorbed energy to turn water and carbon dioxide into food (sugar). Without the ability to absorb light, plants couldn't grow, and we would have no food to eat.