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KS3

Energy and Matter

Question

Why do we see different colours?

2 years ago

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3 Replies

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M

Mabelle Witting


3 Answers

Dr C Profile Picture
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We have special cells in our eyes called cones that are sensitive to different colors, effectively sending electrical impulses to our brain which processes them as colour. The only way we know we are seeing the same 'colour' as every one else is through words or language and colour vision testing!

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Pauline H Profile Picture
Pauline H Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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There are two parts to this answer - we see colours as light reflects from objects. That light ray then eneters the eye focused by refraction in the cornea and the lens hitting the retina. The retina at the back of the eye has specialised cells called rods and cones that trigger a trichemical reaction in the eye which is then interpreted by the eye where we 'see' the colour.

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Lucy Surridge

Hi Mabelle, we see different colours because visible light travels as a waves with different wavelengths. The receptors in our eyes send a signal to our brain when they absorb light with these different wavelengths and our brain interprets these signals to give us information about the colour of objects in front of us. Different objects are seen as different colours as a result of the colours (wavelengths) of light that they absorb or reflect into our eyes.

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