A piece of chalk placed in the shade on a sunny day reflects less light than a black hockey puck placed directly in the sunlight. Yet we perceive the chalk to be brighter than the hockey puck. We can explain this perceptual phenomenon based on the principle of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brightness constancy is the principle that allows us to perceive an object as having a constant brightness even when its illumination changes. This explains why the chalk appears brighter than the hockey puck despite reflecting less light.

A Piece of Chalk Placed in the Shade on a Sunny