Properties of Infrared Absorbers Steps:

• Identify that infrared radiation absorption depends on surface color and texture, per Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation.
• Recall black surfaces absorb more radiation than white ones, as white reflects.
• Note dull (matt) textures trap radiation better than shiny ones, which reflect it.
• Combine: best absorber is black and dull for maximum absorption.

Why A is correct:

• Black absorbs nearly all infrared wavelengths, and dull texture minimizes reflection, making it the ideal absorber per blackbody radiation principles.

Why the others are wrong:

• B: Shiny texture reflects infrared, reducing absorption despite black color.
• C: White reflects most infrared, and shiny worsens it.
• D: White reflects infrared, regardless of dull texture.

Final answer: A