Visible light and colour

Question 1

What is white light made of

Answer 1

• A combination of all wavelengths of all colours

Question 2

What is blackness

Answer 2

• An absence of light

Question 3

Describe the transmission, absorption and reflection of an opaque object

Answer 3

• Don’t transmit any light (we can’t see through)
• Absorbs or reflects all light
• Will appear the colour of the light that is refelcted (E.G: if a ball reflects red light then it will appear red)

Question 4

Describe the transmission, absorption and reflection of a transparent object

Answer 4

• Transmits almost all of the light (we can see through)
• Very small amount is absorbed or reflected

Question 5

Describe the transmission, absorption and reflection of a translucent object

Answer 5

• Only transmits some light (partially see through)
• The more light that is transmitted, the better we can see
• The colour of the object is the wavelength that is transmitted (the object will appear green if green light is transmitted)

Question 6

What light can an object reflect

Answer 6

• An object may reflect a range of wavelengths
• Only primary colour (red, green or blue)
• Secondary colour along with the primary colours that add to give the secondary colour (red + green = yellow)

Question 7

What are primary colour filters

Answer 7

• Only allow certain wavelengths through (red, green or blue)

Question 8

What are non-primary colour filters

Answer 8

• Allows wavelength of same colour as filter (e.g: yellow) and of primary colours that add to give the colour of the filter (e.g: red and green)