When light is shone on a black surface, what is the result?

When light is shone on a black surface, the result is that it absorbs all colors of visible light. This characteristic of black surfaces is due to their ability to absorb the majority of the light spectrum rather than reflecting it. When white light, which contains all wavelengths of visible light, strikes a black surface, almost none of the light is returned to the viewer; instead, it is converted to heat. This is why a black surface feels warmer in sunlight than a lighter-colored surface, which reflects more light.

In contrast, other options suggest different behaviors for light and surfaces. For instance, reflecting all colors would describe a white surface, which rather than absorbing, bounces back most of the light. Appearing white also aligns with the behavior of surfaces that reflect most wavelengths of light. Finally, creating a spectrum implies refraction or dispersion, which occurs in prisms or certain materials, not with black surfaces that absorb light instead of allowing it to be refracted. Thus, the correct conclusion regarding a black surface is that it absorbs all colors.