What determines the amount of absorption of light striking an object?

The absorption of light by an object is primarily determined by its color because different colors correspond to different wavelengths of light. When light strikes an object, certain wavelengths are absorbed and others are reflected or transmitted. An object's color is a result of the wavelengths of light that it reflects rather than absorbs. For instance, a red object absorbs blue and green wavelengths while reflecting red wavelengths, making it appear red to the observer. Thus, the inherent properties of an object's color dictate how much light is absorbed and at which wavelengths, establishing the primary relationship between color and light absorption.

While the object's texture can influence how light is scattered, and material composition determines the fundamental interaction between light and the material, it is specifically the color that has the most direct impact on light absorption characteristics. Temperature, while it can affect materials in other contexts, does not create a direct correlation with light absorption in the same way that color does.