COLORS

Visible light
 OBJECTIVES

EXPLAIN HOW HUMAN EYES SEE Describe the result of combining EXPLAIN COLOR ADDITION.
COLORS. colors of lights and pigments
Colors of Objects
The color of an object is
the wavelengths of light
that it reflects. This is
determined by the
arrangement of electrons
in the atoms of that
substance that will absorb
and re-emit photons of
energies.
When the light strikes on a
banana some of the
wavelengths are absorbs
and others are reflected in
the eyes and interpreted
by the brain. The yellow
color of banana means
that it absorbs all the
wavelength except for the
yellow color.
(pages 68-69 of your science book)
 How do our eyes work?
• Light waves that have been emitted or reflected by an object, enter the
eye and first pass through the transparent layer called the cornea where they
are refracted.
• The light rays are then refracted again as they pass through the
transparent lens (convex).
• The lens focuses the light waves on the retina, located on the back of
the inside of the eye.
• The retina is composed of tiny light sensitive nerves that transfer the energy
of the light waves to nerve impulses transmitted through the optic
nerve to the brain for interpretation as sight.​
 How do we see Colors?
• The absorption and reflection of light waves by various materials results
in human perception of color as follows:
• Most materials absorb light of some frequencies and reflect the rest.
• If a material absorbs a certain frequency of light, that frequency will not be
reflected, so its color will not be perceived by the observer.
• If the material does not absorb a certain frequency of light, that frequency
will be reflected, so its color will be perceived by the observer.
• If all colors of light are reflected by a material, it will appear white. If all
colors of light are absorbed by a material, it will appear black.
Adding Color
Creating different colors by
mixing light colors is a method
called additive color.

By convention, the three primary

colors in additive mixing
are red, green, and blue. In
the absence of light of any color,
the result is black. If all three
primary colors of light are mixed
in equal proportions, the result
is neutral (gray or white).
(see different color combination chart on
science book pages 69-71)
Color filters
Allow only certain
colors of light to
pass/transmit thr
ough them; they
absorb or reflect
all other colors.