Understanding the Science Behind Colors – An Interesting Perspective Through the Lens of Physics

The subject of color is a fascinating topic. Take a red apple, for example. It looks red under sunlight, but take it into a room with only blue light….it becomes black. This is because ‘’color’’ is a construct of the brain based on the wavelength of light captured by the eye.

Color is a visual perception and sensation produced by the way our eyes and brain interpret different wavelengths of light. It is a fundamental characteristic of the visual world and plays a crucial role in how we perceive and understand our surroundings.

While color is a real experience and a fundamental part of our perception, it is also subjective and can vary from one observer to another. It is a complex interplay of biology, physics, and psychology that creates our experience of color.

The phenomenon of color arises from the interaction between light, objects, and our eyes. When light from a source (such as the sun or a light bulb) strikes an object, the object absorbs certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. The wavelengths of light that are reflected are what we perceive as the color of the object. For example, a red apple appears red because it reflects red wavelengths of light and absorbs other colors.

Our eyes contain specialized cells called cones that are sensitive to different ranges of wavelengths in the light spectrum. These cones send signals to our brain, which then processes the information and allows us to perceive and differentiate between various wavelengths (colors). The primary colors in the additive color model are red, green, and blue, and different combinations of these colors can create a wide range of other colors.

Here’s how color perception works:

1. Light Source: Color perception begins with a source of light. This can be natural light from the sun or artificial light from a lamp or screen. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, and it consists of a spectrum of different wavelengths.
2. Object Interaction: When this light falls on an object, the object interacts with the light. Different objects have different physical properties that determine how they interact with light. These properties include absorption, reflection, and transmission of specific wavelengths of light.
3. Absorption and Reflection: An object’s color is primarily determined by which wavelengths of light it absorbs and which it reflects. For example, a red apple appears red because it absorbs most colors in the visible spectrum but reflects red wavelengths, which then enter our eyes.
4. The Human Eye: Our eyes contain specialized cells called cones, which are sensitive to different ranges of wavelengths in the light spectrum. Humans have three types of cones that are most sensitive to short (blue), medium (green), and long (red) wavelengths. These cones send electrical signals to the brain in response to the wavelengths of light they detect.
5. Brain Processing: The brain processes the information received from these cones to create our perception of color. It combines the signals from the different types of cones to determine the color of an object. For example, when red and green cones are stimulated together, our brain may perceive the color yellow.
6. Color Perception Variability: Color perception is somewhat subjective and can vary from person to person. Some individuals may have variations in their color vision, leading to conditions like color blindness. Additionally, environmental factors, lighting conditions, and surrounding colors can influence how we perceive the color of an object.

In summary, color is a visual phenomenon resulting from the interaction of light, objects, and our eyes’ perception mechanisms. It relies on our eyes’ ability to detect different wavelengths of light and our brain’s interpretation of these wavelengths. It is a fundamental aspect of our sensory experience, allowing us to distinguish and appreciate the rich array of hues in the world around us. For instance, the functioning of a scuba dive light or a dive camera light and the perceivable effects it creates can be attributed to different wavelengths of light and our ability to comprehend them.