Chapter U5.114, Problem 6E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason for colors to be described in terms of wavelength rather than words needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Humans can see color due to interaction between emitted and reflected light by an object and eye. The emitted or reflected light waves by an object enter the eye and passed the cornea of the eye where refraction of light takes place. The refracted light again undergoes refraction when it is passed through the transparent lens. This lens focuses the light waves on the retina where image of the object is formed.

Explanation of Solution

The object absorbs certain wavelength or frequency of light and reflects light with different wavelength.

The wavelength of light absorbs by an object will not be reflected by the object thus, the observed color will not be in that wavelength range.

If an object reflects all the colors of the light, it will appear white and if it absorbs all the colors, it will appear black.

The observed light is always complementary to the color of the light absorbed by it.

The following color wheel represents the color and the wavelength range in which they are absorbed.

For example, from the color wheel, the color of light complementary to yellow is violet. Thus, if an object absorbs in the wavelength range of 400-450 nm which is for violet color thus, the wavelength of yellow light that is 560-600 nm is transmitted by the object. Therefore, the object appears yellow color.

Since, the color of an object depends on the wavelength of light absorbed by it thus, it is important to describe colors in terms of wavelength rather than words.