Question

The fraction of the incident electromagnetic energy reflected from a material is known as

• A. acuity
• B. albedo
• C. spectral hue
• D. artifact

Hint:

Albedo is crucial in climate studies: snow and ice have high albedo (strong reflectors), whereas forests and oceans have low albedo (strong absorbers).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the term.
- The fraction of incoming electromagnetic radiation (such as sunlight) that is reflected by a surface is called its albedo.
- It is a dimensionless measure, expressed as a ratio or percentage, ranging from 0 (no reflection, total absorption) to 1 (total reflection).
Step 2: Checking other options.
- (A) Acuity: Refers to sharpness of vision, not related to reflection.
- (C) Spectral hue: Refers to perceived color, not reflection coefficient.
- (D) Artifact: Refers to errors or distortions in data, not reflection.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct term for the fraction of incident electromagnetic energy reflected from a material is: \[ \boxed{\text{Albedo (Option B)}} \]