How do reflective materials work?

Answer 1

Ultraviolet rays from car headlights or street lamps reflect the reflected areas and makes the colour glow.

add Light may be reflected from a surface, and the apparent colour of the surface is due to the absorption of all the other colours.

If a surface is smooth compared with the wavelength of the incident lightwave, then an image may be seen reflected from the surface. [About 1/20 of a wavelength would be good.] If the surface is also shiny, then a good mirror will be had.

Alternatively, if the surface were covered with tiny clear glass or plastic beads, then a total internal reflection will be observed. This is the reflectorized jacket application and similar. The equivalent of the Brocken spectre, or the mist halo effect. The beads reflect essentially all the light they receive, back in the direction from which the light arrived.

Some materials may be made to fluoresce - to emit light at a wavelength other than the incident one. These materials will appear to glow, and this effect is often obtained under ultraviolet light light (black light).

Answer 2

Reflective materials work by bouncing light back towards its source. This is achieved through the material's smooth surface and the properties of the material that allow it to reflect light rather than absorb it. This reflection creates a mirror-like effect that increases visibility and brightness.