Our ability to see objects is based on the interaction of light with those objects. Light consists of photons, which are elementary particles that carry energy and electromagnetic properties. When light interacts with matter, such as when it reaches an object, several processes can occur, including absorption, transmission, and reflection.
When photons encounter an object, they can be absorbed by the atoms or molecules of that object. When this happens, the energy of the photons is transferred to the atoms, which can result in various outcomes, such as heating the object or exciting its electrons. In the case of vision, if all the photons are absorbed by an object, no light is reflected back, and the object appears completely dark to our eyes.
Alternatively, photons can also be transmitted through certain materials. In this case, the photons pass through the object without being absorbed or significantly scattered. Transparent materials like glass or water allow most of the incident light to transmit through them, which is why we can see through them.
However, when photons strike an object and are neither absorbed nor transmitted, they can undergo reflection. Reflection occurs when photons bounce off the surface of an object without being absorbed or transmitted through it. The reflective properties of an object determine how much light is reflected and in which direction. This reflected light carries information about the object, such as its color and shape.
To perceive an object visually, we rely on the photons that are reflected off its surface and reach our eyes. Our eyes contain specialized cells called photoreceptors, which are sensitive to the electromagnetic radiation in the visible light spectrum. When photons enter our eyes and strike the photoreceptors, they trigger a series of chemical and electrical processes that ultimately result in the perception of light and the formation of visual images in our brain.
In summary, we cannot directly see photons because they are the particles that carry light, and our visual perception relies on the interaction of light with objects. Reflecting off an object does not change the fundamental properties of a photon, but it determines whether the photon is absorbed, transmitted, or reflected, thereby influencing our ability to see the object.