6.

4 Colours of light
Primary colours

 Topic 3.3 explained that there are seven colours in white light. These
are the colours that can be seen in the rainbow.
 However, there are three colours of light from which all other colours
of light can be made. These are called the primary colours.
 The primary colours cannot be made by mixing any other colours of
light.
The primary colours of light are:

 red
 green
 blue.

The primary colours of light are different

from the primary colours in paints. The
colours in light mix differently from the
colours in paint.
Adding colours of light
The diagram shows what happens when three beams of light, each of a
different primary colour, overlap.
You can see the effect of adding the primary colours:

 red + green = yellow

 red + blue = magenta

 blue + green = cyan

 red + green + blue = white

Colours formed by overlapping
the three primary colours of light
 The different colours that you see on a mobile phone, computer or
television are all produced from combinations of the three primary colours
of light.
 When you look very closely at some types of computer monitor, television
or phone screen, you can see the individual sources of red, green and blue
light.
 The colours on this phone display are made
by adding the three primary colours of
light.

 Close-up of a television screen showing the

sources of the primary colours of light
 When you look at a television or phone screen, you see far more
colours than just red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow and white.

 Most screens can display 256 different colours.

 Changing the brightness of the primary colours makes all these

different colours.

 For example, orange is made by adding red and green, but with the
red brighter than the green.

 Research has shown that 256 is the maximum number of colours that
most people can see.
Subtracting colours of light
 You have probably used a filter in your chemistry lessons. Filters are
used to remove something from a mixture.

 You can also use coloured filters to remove colours from light.

 If a transparent piece of coloured glass or plastic is placed in front of a

white light, then only light of that colour will be transmitted (get
through).

 All the other colours will be absorbed.

 A common example of coloured filters is in
traffic lights.
 The traffic lights use three identical white
lamps. In front of each lamp is a coloured
filter for red, yellow or green.
 Take the red filter as the example to see
how this works.
 White light, from the lamp, is made from
the seven colours of light: red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
These traffic lights use coloured
filters.

A coloured filter works by absorbing
the colours of light that are different
from the colour of the filter.
 When these seven colours arrive at
the red filter, only red is transmitted.
The other six are absorbed. This is
shown in the diagram.
 This is an example of subtraction of
light. White light has had six colours
subtracted to leave only red.
 In the traffic lights, the yellow and
green filters work in exactly the same
way.
 Each of them absorbs six colours and
only transmits one colour.
 The blue stage light in the picture has a white lamp and a blue filter.
 If you look carefully, you can see where the white lamp is inside the black
case.
 The colours of the filters in stage lights can be changed to produce
different colours.
 Photographers sometimes use coloured filters on a camera to get different
effects.

This stage light What colour was the

is using a white filter used in taking
lamp and a blue this photograph?
filter
 As with numbers, it is possible to
subtract colours of light until the
end result is zero.
 For example, if white light shines
on a green filter, only green light
will get through. The other colours
of the white light are absorbed.
 If this green light then shines on a
red filter then no light will get
through. Green is one of the The result of using two different coloured
colours that a red filter absorbs. filters
Seeing colours
 When you look at a non-luminous object, you
see the light that is reflected from the object.
‘Non-luminous’ means the object does not emit
its own light.
 Look at the flower in the picture.
 The flower is seen in white light. The flower
looks yellow because it reflects only yellow
light. The flower absorbs the other six colours
in white light. This is shown in the diagram.

The flower appears yellow because it reflects yellow

light and absorbs the other colours.
 A white object reflects all the colours in white light equally.
 A black object absorbs all the colours in white light and does not reflect
any.
 These three balls appear black, red or white, according which colours of
light they reflect and which they absorb.

a. blue and red cubes in white light;
b. the same cubes in green light;
c. the same cubes in red light.
 Look at the two cubes in Figure. One is
red and the other is blue. The cubes are
shown in different colours of light.
 The red cube appears black when seen in
green light.
 This is because red objects only reflect red
light.
 They absorb all other colours. Here, the
red cube is absorbing the blue light and not
reflecting any light.
 The blue cube appears black when seen in
red light for the same reason. It absorbs the
red light and does not reflect any light.
 Question
1. List the three primary colours of light.
 red, green, blue

2. Name the colour produced when

a. red light and blue light are added together
b. red light and green light are added together
c. red, green and blue lights are added together.
a. magenta
b. yellow
c. white
3. A stage light uses a white lamp. What colour of light will be seen when:
a. a yellow filter is used
b. an orange filter is used.

Answer
a. yellow
b. orange
4. a. A green ball appears green. What colour of light could be shining on the
green ball? Choose two.
blue green red white magenta
b. A blue ball appears black. What two colours of light could be shining on
the blue ball?
blue green red white
Answer
a. green, white
b. green, red
5. A T-shirt looks red. What could explain this? Write three letters.
A. the T-shirt is red and is seen in white light
B. the T-shirt is red and is seen in red light
C. the T-shirt is blue and is seen in green light
D. the T-shirt is white and is seen in red light
E. the T-shirt is yellow and is seen in blue light

Answer
 A, B, D