how is the color of an object related to the wavelengths of light that are reflected and the wavelengths that are absorbed

Question

Physics

Keyla Cox

27 August, 23:49

how is the color of an object related to the wavelengths of light that are reflected and the wavelengths that are absorbed

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Orlando Davidson · Answer 1

The color of an object is related to the wavelengths of light that are reflected and the wavelengths that are absorbed because:

Visible light is light that has wavelengths that can be detected by the human eye. The wavelength of visible light determines the color that the light appears. The light with the longest wavelength is red, and light with the shortest wavelength is violet.

An opaque object doesn't allow light to pass through it. But, it reflects or absorbs the light that strike it. Some objects like the leaves reflect one or a few wavelengths of visible light and absorb the others. The reflected wavelengths are used to find the color of an object as it is seen by the human eye. Example: The leaves are in green as they reflect green light and absorb the other wavelengths light. A transparent or translucent material, such as window glass, transmits some or all of the light that strikes it. This means that the light passes through the material rather than being reflected by it. Hence, we see the material because of the transmitted light. So the wavelength of the transmitted light is used to find the color that the object appears.