Which factor can affect an object's ability to absorb infrared energy?

The ability of an object to absorb infrared energy is primarily influenced by the color of the object. Darker colors absorb more infrared radiation compared to lighter colors, which reflect more of that energy. This principle is associated with how different wavelengths of light, including infrared, interact with materials. For example, a black surface absorbs a greater amount of thermal energy than a white surface, which is reflective. This characteristic plays a significant role in various applications, such as in thermal cameras or in understanding how different materials behave in various thermal environments. The other factors, while they may impact an object's thermal properties in specific contexts, do not have as significant a direct effect on the absorption of infrared energy as color does.