Guide to Light and Color

Do you have a favorite color? Most people do, however

for many people, it changes from time to time. Look
around you. What colors do you see? What makes it
possible for our eyes to see light and enjoy different
colors? It's a sure thing that color adds beauty to
anything it touches in our world. Scientists have done
studies that show certain colors will stimulate the
brain in different ways. It's funny to think that
different colors are calming while others are  Albert Einstein and Galileo Galilei
energizing. Color and light are necessary elements in Application of the Scientific Method
our world and make huge visual differences in our  Atomic Structure, Electron Configuration
lives.  Background Sites
 Energy Science Vocabulary Words
Worksheets
When trying to understand light and color, we must Introduction to the Scientific Method
first understand that light travels in the form of a  Light and Color Lesson Plans
wave. These waves consist of both high and low  Light and Color Worksheets
points. The amount of distance between these points  Science Graphic Organizers Set
is called a wavelength. Short wave lengths will have a
high amount of energy. Long wave lengths will have a
low amount of energy. A good example of colorful
wavelengths is the rainbow. The sun gives off its
radiation which our eyes construe as the colors we
see. There are seven colors in the rainbow and
include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and
violet. This is known as the visible spectrum.
Science Graphic Organizers Set

Offers a variety of organizers that can be used to assist learners in developing

the knowledge and skill related to science content. These organizers can be
easily adapted for use in all grade levels.
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Particles of energy called photons move as waves. Natural or white light from the sun, is
established of colors. These colors are various kinds of light which are acknowledged by their
personal wavelengths. Both above and below the visible spectrum, waves exist. These waves
are known as microwave, infrared and radio. They are below the red end of the spectrum.
Above the violet end of the spectrum, are ultraviolet, gamma and x-rays. The waves that exist
above and below the spectrum cannot be seen with the naked eye so they are known as the
invisible spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of both the visible and invisible
spectrums.

It is possible for three things to happen to a light wave. This wave can be reflected,
transmitted or absorbed depending on the object that the wave length hits. Black objects
absorb the light, solid objects reflect the light and transparent objects transmit the light
through them. An objects color is dependent on the kind of light that is sent to our eyes. In a
totally dark room, we are unable to detect any color at all. Human eyes are only able to react
to certain wavelengths and certain colors. Not everyone sees colors or shades of colors the
same. In fact, no two people identify colors exactly the same. The human eye contains both
light and color sensitive receptors.

Albert Einstein and Galileo Galilei

Albert Einstein, seen as the greatest genius of the 20th century. Galileo Galilei,
an Italian scientist.
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It is interesting to learn that some people are color blind. This means that they have difficulty
perceiving color. This mal-function is directly related to the X chromosome which is only found
in men. Artists and home decorators are two types of professionals that use color in their jobs.
They have found that one of their best tools to use is the color wheel.

Perhaps you don't even know what a color wheel is. It's fairly easy to understand. The color
wheel is shaped in a circular pattern and shows how colors are related to one another. In order
to understand how to use the color wheel, you must first recognize some important terms
pertaining to color.

Atomic Structure

This workbook is geared for Introductory High School Chemistry students.

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Five Color Terms Defined

a. Hue sounds important but its actually just another word for color.

b. Tint describes a color to which the color white has been added.

c. Tone is a color to which the color grey (white and black combined) is added.

d. Shade describes a color to which the color black has been added.

e. Value describes the lightness or darkness of any color.

How The Color Wheel Works

On the color wheel, there are three primary colors. These colors would include red, blue and
yellow. Next, there are three secondary colors. They are purple, orange and green. We get the
secondary colors by mixing the primary colors such as red and blue to create purple. Yellow
and red to create orange. And blue and yellow to create green. There is a step further on the
color wheel when a primary color is mixed with a secondary color to create a tertiary color.
Here we would come up with colors such as red-orange, yellow-green and blue-purple or violet.
When these colors are mixed with pure white or pure black, we end up with numerous tints and
shades of the various colors. Sounds a lot like a rainbow, don't you agree? The color wheel is an
important aid in understanding color. Welcome to the world of color and light and enjoy the
beauty that surrounds you!

Application of the Scientific Method

Students practice writing good experimental conclusions and explain a conclusion

based on provided data. Students also complete experiments when given partial
experimental setups.
Light is made up of wavelengths of light, and each wavelength is a particular colour.
The colour we see is a result of which wavelengths are reflected back to our eyes.
The visible spectrum
The visible spectrum showing the wavelengths of each of the component colours. The
spectrum ranges from dark red at 700 nm to violet at 400 nm.

Visible light
Visible light is the small part within the electromagnetic spectrum that human eyes are
sensitive to and can detect.

Visible light waves consist of different wavelengths. The colour of visible light depends
on its wavelength. These wavelengths range from 700 nm at the red end of the
spectrum to 400 nm at the violet end.

Visible light
Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves we can see. We see these waves
as the colours of the rainbow. Each colour has a different wavelength. Red has the
longest wavelength, and violet has the shortest wavelength. When all the waves are seen
together, they make white light.

Image acknowledgement : Delcreations, 123RF Ltd

White light is actually made of all of the colours of the rainbow because it contains all
wavelengths, and it is described as polychromatic light. Light from a torch or the Sun is
a good example of this.

Light from a laser is monochromatic, which means it only produces one colour. (Lasers
are extremely dangerous and can cause permanent eye damage. Extreme care must
be taken to ensure that light from a laser never enters someone’s eyes.)

Colour of objects
Objects appear different colours because they absorb some colours (wavelengths) and
reflected or transmit other colours. The colours we see are the wavelengths that are
reflected or transmitted.

For example, a red shirt looks red because the dye molecules in the fabric have
absorbed the wavelengths of light from the violet/blue end of the spectrum. Red light is
the only light that is reflected from the shirt. If only blue light is shone onto a red shirt,
the shirt would appear black, because the blue would be absorbed and there would be
no red light to be reflected.

White objects appear white because they reflect all colours. Black objects absorb all
colours so no light is reflected.
Red shirt and blue shorts
Why does the shirt look red and the shorts blue? The shirt looks red because the shirt
absorbs the other colours and only reflects red waves. The blue shorts reflect blue and
absorb green, yellow and red.

Colour detection
The retina of our eyes contains two types of photoreceptors – rods and cones. The
cones detect colour. The rods only let us see things in black, white and grey. Our
cones only work when the light is bright enough, but not when light is very dim. This is
why things look grey and we cannot see colours at night when the light is dim.

How the eye works

Associate Professor Gordon Sanderson explains how the eye works, focusing on the
receptors located in the retina at the back of the eye.

There are three types of cones in the human eye that are sensitive to short (S),
medium (M) and long (L) wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. (These cones
have traditionally been known as blue-sensitive, green-sensitive and red-sensitive, but
as each cone is actually responsive to a range of wavelengths, the S, M and L labels
are more accepted now.)
These three types of colour receptor allow the brain to perceive signals from the retina
as different colours. Some estimate that humans are able to distinguish about 10
million colours.

Mixing colours
The primary colours of light are red, green and blue. Mixing these colours in different
proportions can make all the colours of the light we see. This is how TV and computer
screens work. If you look at a screen with a magnifying glass you will be able to see
that only these three colours are being used. For example, red and green lights are
used to make our brain perceive the image as yellow.
 What You Need:
 3 flashlights
 transparent plastic report covers (red, blue, and green)
 a pair of scissors
 adhesive tape

What You Do:

1. Cut out a disk from each report cover about the size of the flashlight lens.
2. Tape one disk over the clear lens of each flashlight. Aim the red beam at a nearby white wall. What color do
you see?
3. While the red remains on, aim the beam of blue so that it overlaps half of the red spot. What happens?
4. Now aim the beam of green so that all three colors fall on the same spot. What happens as the colors are added
to each other?

The Science
When light beams mix, the combined colors are added together. Unlike the mixing of paint
pigments, this additive process produces lighter colors. When the right combination is
produced, we "see" white.
Real-World Connection
The next time you're in a performance theater, take a look at the stage lights. Most likely,
you'll see a row of lights that surround the stage. These border lights aren't white. Instead,
they consist of a pattern of colored lights. When projected, these different colors create
white.

Related learning resources

Mixing colours
The primary colours of light are red, green and blue. Mixing these colours in different
proportions can make all the colours of the light we see. This is how TV and computer
screens work. If you look at a screen with a magnifying glass you will be able to see
that only these three colours are being used. For example, red and green lights are
used to make our brain perceive the image as yellow.

When coloured lights are mixed together, it is called additive mixing. Red, green and
blue are the primary colours for additive mixing. If all of these colours of light are shone
onto a screen at the same time, you will see white.