Colour & Reflection of Light Flashcards

All 8 cards in this deck

What determines the colour of an opaque object?

Which wavelengths of light it reflects most strongly; the wavelengths that are not reflected are absorbed.

Why does an opaque object appear white, and why does one appear black?

White: all wavelengths are reflected equally. Black: all wavelengths are absorbed.

How does a colour filter work?

It absorbs certain wavelengths (colours) and transmits others.
e.g. a red filter transmits only red light.

What colour does a blue opaque object appear when lit only by red light?

Black — the red light is absorbed by the object, so no light is reflected.

What are the two words used for objects that transmit light, and what is the word for one that does not?

Transparent and translucent transmit light; opaque does not transmit light.

What is the difference between a transparent and a translucent object?

A transparent object transmits light so things can be seen clearly through it; a translucent object transmits light but scatters it, so things cannot be seen clearly.

True or false? A white object viewed through a green filter appears green.

True. The white object reflects all wavelengths, but the filter transmits only green light to the eye.

True or false? A red object appears red because it absorbs red light.

False. It reflects red light most strongly and absorbs the other wavelengths.