Light is a wave

What is
Color?
Color is
electromagnetic
waves at different
frequency of light
These are waves that are capable of
traveling through a vacuum.
Unlike mechanical waves that require a
medium in order to transport their
energy, electromagnetic waves are
capable of transporting energy through
the vacuum of outer space.
What is electromagnetic
waves?
Electromagnetic waves exist with an enormous
range of frequencies. This continuous range of
frequencies is known as the electromagnetic
spectrum. The entire range of the spectrum is
often broken into specific regions.
What is electromagnetic
waves?
Visible light region - the very narrow
band of wavelengths located to the right
of the infrared region and to the left of
the ultraviolet region.
Visible Light Spectrum
Isaac Newton showed that
light shining through a prism
will be separated into its
different wavelengths and
will thus show the various
colors that visible light is
comprised. The separation
of visible light into its
different colors is known as
dispersion.
Visible Light Spectrum
THE COLORS OF THE VISIBLE LIGHT SPECTRUM
COLOR WAVELENGTH INTERVAL FREQUENCY INTERVAL
Red
~ 700635 nm ~ 430480 THz
Orange
~ 635590 nm ~ 480510 THz
Yellow
~ 590560 nm ~ 510540 THz
Green
~ 560490 nm ~ 540610 THz
Blue
~ 490450 nm ~ 610670 THz
Violet
~ 450400 The colors of
the visible light spectrum
nm
~ 670750 THz

Sunlight contains virtually all wavelengths
of light and therefore contains virtually all
colors.
The apple looks red because it reflects red
light more than it reflects the other colors
All other colors are absorbed and the
energy their carrying transforms into heat.

Light that enters the eye through the pupil
ultimately strikes the inside surface of the
eye known as the retina.
The retina is lined with a variety of light
sensing cells known as rods and cones.
While the rods on the retina are sensitive
to the intensity of light, they cannot
distinguish between lights of different
wavelengths. On the other hand, the cones
are the color-sensing cells of the retina.
Color Cones
Color Cones
Additive color is light
created by mixing
together light of two
or more different
colors. Red, green,
and blue are the
additive primary
colors normally used
in additive color
systems such as
projectors and
computer terminals
Additive Coloring
Subtractive coloring
uses dyes, inks, and
pigments to absorb
some wavelengths of
light and not others.
The color that a
surface displays
comes from the
parts of the visible
spectrum that are
not absorbed and
therefore remain
visible.
Subtractive Coloring
Without pigments or
dye, fabric fibers, paint
base and paper are
usually made of
particles that scatter
white light (all colors)
well in all directions.
When a pigment or ink
is added, wavelengths
are absorbed or
"subtracted" from white
light, so light of another
color reaches the eye.
Subtractive Coloring
Subtractive coloring
uses dyes, inks, and
pigments to absorb
some wavelengths of
light and not others.
The color that a
surface displays
comes from the
parts of the visible
spectrum that are
not absorbed and
therefore remain
visible.
Subtractive Coloring

Why is there a rainbow
after a rain?
Rainbows are caused by the refraction, or
bending, of sunlight as it passes through the
raindrops. The raindrops act like miniature
prisms. Thus the spectrum, or band of
colors which make up the "white light" exits
the prism as separate bands of color. The
more slowly a wavelength of light travels,
the more it is bent by the prism. That is
why the colors seen in the rainbow are
always in the order: red; orange; yellow;
green; blue; indigo and violet. The red light
travels more slowly than violet light so it is
bent more.