Chapter 13, Problem 13TE

What color besides white is common on today’ table-tennis balls, and why?

Solution

To determine: The color and the reason for using another color instead of white on tennis balls.

Answer:

Yellow-green colored tennis balls are common on today’s table-tennis besides white because yellow-green color is most sensitive to human eyes.

Explanation:

The sensitivity of the human eye to the light of wavelength 490 nm is about 20 percent of the photopic sensitivity at 555 nm wavelength of light. So to produce the impression of same brightness, the light of wavelength 490 nm has the power five times that of 555 nm monochromatic light.

Besides white color, yellow-green color balls are commonly used in table tennis to produce the brightest impression on the eye and the feasibility in seeing and striking the ball.

Conclusion:

Therefore, Yellow-green colored tennis balls are common on today’s table-tennis besides white because yellow-green color is most sensitive to human eyes.