What is the effect of light traveling through steel?

When light travels through materials, several interactions can occur depending on the properties of the material. In the case of steel, it is primarily opaque and has a shiny surface. As a result, when light hits steel, it tends to reflect off the surface rather than passing through it.

Reflection occurs when light waves bounce back from a surface rather than being absorbed or transmitted. The shiny characteristic of steel allows for a significant amount of light to be reflected, which is why we often see bright reflections on metallic surfaces. This property makes steel effective in various applications where visibility and light reflection are essential.

In contrast, materials that are transparent, such as glass, would primarily allow light to pass through, leading to refraction. Materials like black paint would largely absorb light, preventing it from being reflected or passing through. Scattering involves light being deflected at various angles due to interactions with small particles, which is not a primary effect with a solid, smooth surface like steel. Therefore, the most fitting description of what happens to light traveling through steel is reflection.