Reflectivity is a property of the body surface and is dependent on the temperature of the body and the
wavelength of the incident radiation. It is a dimensionless value and measured as the fraction of incident
radiation that is reflected from the body.
Surface finish plays an important role in the reflectivity of a material. Smooth surfaces reflect radiation
specularly, therefore they are not good absorbers or emitters. Rough surfaces which reflect diffusely are
better absorbers and also better emitters than smooth surfaces. Related topic: