To understand how light waves interact with a red jacket, you can refer to the wave model of light. This model explains that light behaves as a wave, and when it encounters an object (like a red jacket), several phenomena occur:
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Reflection: Some of the light waves bounce off the surface of the jacket. The color perceived by an observer depends on which wavelengths of light are reflected.
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Absorption: The jacket absorbs some wavelengths of light. A red jacket appears red because it predominantly reflects red light wavelengths while absorbing other colors (like blue and green).
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Transmission: In some cases, if the material of the jacket is somewhat transparent, some light may pass through it, but most jackets are opaque.
In the case of the red jacket, when white light (which contains all colors) strikes it, the jacket reflects predominantly red wavelengths and absorbs the others, making it appear red to our eyes.
For a more advanced understanding, the quantum model of light can also be applied, which describes light as both waves and photons, but for primary interactions like we see with everyday objects, the wave model suffices.