Colours

Question 1

What is dispersion?

Answer 1

Dispersion is the separation of white light into colours

or of any radiation according to wavelength.

Question 2

What is the visible spectrum - ROYGBIV?

Answer 2

It is a colour spectrum (roygbiv) which is visible if white light passes through a glass prism.

Question 3

What happens when light hits an object?

Answer 3

Some light is absorbed by the object, and some of it is reflected off the object. If white light (e.g from the sun) hits an object, and the roygbiv colours are absorbed, very little light will be reflected into your eye. The object will appear black. If it is opposite, and the roygbiv colour are reflected, the object will appear white.

Question 4

What happens when an apple absorbs colours?

Answer 4

We only see red, because the apple absorbed all of the other roygbiv colours. It only reflects red light into your eye.

Question 5

Why does white light split into the colours of the spectrum?

Answer 5

Because each roygbiv colour is refracted (or bent) at slightly different angles, as it passes from air to glass.

Question 6

What is white light?

Answer 6

We cannot actually see white light. It is made up of a whole range (or spectrum) of colours, mixed together.