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I say 'some materials' because it is not true for all. Usually, clothes appear darker when wetted, but I have one pair of trousers that actually goes ligher when water spashes on them, so it is not 'always'.
When materials get wet, the light that hits them is scattered in different directions. This causes the material to appear darker because less light is being reflected back to our eyes. This phenomenon is known as "wetting transparency".
No, the water itself is not changing the color of the material. The change in appearance is due to the way light interacts with the wet surface. The color of the material remains the same, but the way we perceive it is affected by the wetness.
Some materials have a smoother surface, which allows light to reflect off of it more evenly. When these materials get wet, the light is still able to reflect off of them, making them appear less dark. However, materials with rougher surfaces scatter light more, making them appear darker when wet.
Yes, the thickness of the water layer can affect how dark the material appears when wet. Thicker water layers will absorb more light, making the material appear darker. Thinner water layers may not have as much of an impact on the material's appearance.
No, this effect is visible in any type of light, including artificial light. However, certain lighting conditions may make the effect more or less noticeable. For example, a bright light source may make the wet material appear less dark, while a dim light source may make it appear darker.