The detection of physical energy emitted or reflected by physical objects is called .

Sensation                

Explanation:

Sensation: In psychology, the term sensation is referred to as one of the processes that involve an individual to sense his or her environment via sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. The information that an individual has received through sense organs is being sent to his or her brain in raw form and hence from that point perception related to specific stimuli occurs. Through perception, an individual tends to interpret various sensations and is capable of making sense of everything which is around him or her.

Types: Visual sensation, gustatory sensation, auditory sensation, etc.

In the question above, the given statement represents the sensation.