Absorb - GCSE Physics Definition

In GCSE Physics, the term 'absorb' refers to the process by which a material or substance takes in energy, such as light, heat, or sound, from its surroundings. When a material absorbs energy, it often converts it into a different form, such as thermal energy, causing the material to warm up, or sound, resulting in less reflected or transmitted sound.

An everyday example can be seen in black coloured surfaces, which absorb more light energy and hence heat up faster than lighter colours.

Understanding absorption is essential for studying various physical phenomena, such as how insulation works or how colours affect the thermal properties of materials.