Idrees
Dec 7, 2007, 03:18 AM
It is said that white color reflects all the colors of white light. Silver also reflects all the colors of light. Then what is the difference between silver & white? Also why is it so that we can see our shape in silver (like mirror) and not on smooth white colored surface?
Capuchin
Dec 7, 2007, 03:29 AM
Depends what you mean by silver. To me silver is just a greyish color - reflects them all with some loss - a dull white if you want.
But the thing with the silvered surface of the mirror is that it's finely polished.
White color is not polished - if it was, then it would be silver like a mirror!
A mirror reflects specularly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specular_reflection), white reflects diffusely (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffuse_reflection). (click the links).
If you have any more trouble understanding, please come back and reply!
In a finely polished car, it's actually a layer of buffing wax that reflects specularly (like water), and the paint reflects diffusely, which is why you can see both the color and your reflection.