Photoelectric detection principles are affected by what characteristic of the particles of combustion?

The correct answer, which is color, is significant because photoelectric smoke detectors operate using the principle of light scattering. In these detectors, a light source emits light into a sensing chamber. When particles of combustion, such as smoke, enter the chamber, they scatter the light. The degree of scattering relates closely to the color of the particles.

Darker or more opaque smoke particles will scatter more light than lighter-colored particles, thus triggering the detector more effectively. This characteristic is crucial for the performance of photoelectric detectors, as it determines how well they can detect different types of smoke, which can vary in color based on the materials burning.

Other characteristics, such as size, temperature, and density of the particles, do play a role in combustion processes and other types of detectors. However, they are less directly impactful on how photoelectric detectors operate since these systems primarily rely on the scattering of light by the color of the particles present in the air. Color specifically affects the scattering properties and thus the detector’s sensitivity to various kinds of smoke.