Yes, yellow paper reflects light.
Yellow paper appears yellow because it selectively reflects yellow wavelengths of light more than other colors in the visible spectrum. When white light (which contains all colors) shines on the paper, the paper absorbs most of the colors but reflects a significant portion of the yellow wavelengths. This reflected yellow light is what our eyes perceive.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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White Light Composition: White light is a mixture of all colors of the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet).
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Selective Reflection: Pigments in the yellow paper absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. In this case, the pigment is designed to absorb most colors except yellow.
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Perception: The reflected yellow light enters our eyes, and our brains interpret this as the color yellow.
To illustrate:
| Light Color | Fate When Shining on Yellow Paper |
|---|---|
| Red | Mostly Absorbed |
| Orange | Mostly Absorbed |
| Yellow | Mostly Reflected |
| Green | Mostly Absorbed |
| Blue | Mostly Absorbed |
| Indigo | Mostly Absorbed |
| Violet | Mostly Absorbed |
It's important to note that yellow paper doesn't reflect only yellow light. It might reflect some light from adjacent wavelengths (like orange or green) as well, but it reflects yellow light to a significantly greater degree, hence its yellow appearance.
