absorptance

American  

[ab-sawrp-tuhns, -zawrp-] / æbˈsɔrp təns, -ˈzɔrp- /

noun

Physics, Optics.

1. the ratio of the amount of radiation absorbed by a surface to the amount of radiation incident upon it.

---

absorptance British  

/ -ˈzɔːp-, əbˈsɔːptəns /

noun

1.  α.  physics a measure of the ability of an object to absorb radiation, equal to the ratio of the absorbed radiant flux to the incident flux. For a layer of material the ratio of the flux absorbed between the entry and exit surfaces of the layer to the flux leaving the entry surface is the internal absorptance Compare reflectance transmittance

---

Etymology

Origin of absorptance

1930–35; translation of German Absorptionsvermögen. See absorption, -ance