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Mu naught
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so I was playing with my 532 nm (green) laser pointer when I noticed something strange. You can shine it at virtually any surface it will appear as a bright green dot - nothing unexpected there. However by chance, I noticed that when I pointed it at this red bottle of laundry detergent i have, instead of appearing as a green dot, it changes very noticeably to an orange/yellow color. Yet when I shine it at an oblique angle so I can see the reflected light on another surface, the reflected light is green.
Here is a video I took of it. It's not the best quality and you'll have to believe me when I say that the color change is VERY noticeable by eye.
My only explanation is that something in the plastic is absorbing the green light and then emitting light of a different wavelength. When the new color mixes with the reflected green light it forms the yellow/orange color.
If you have a better explanation please post it.
Here is a video I took of it. It's not the best quality and you'll have to believe me when I say that the color change is VERY noticeable by eye.
My only explanation is that something in the plastic is absorbing the green light and then emitting light of a different wavelength. When the new color mixes with the reflected green light it forms the yellow/orange color.
If you have a better explanation please post it.
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