Is light visible because of objects, or are objects visible because of light...or both?

Answer 1

This very question led to one of the greatest revolutions in the history of artistic expression in oil on canvas paintings. Reading some of the writings of Renee Descartes may also shed some illumination on the subject. There really is no clear cut answer to this question but the latter suggestion seems more plausible.

Answer 2

It is theoretically possible to create magnetic waves emanating from a location that has no object. This would be a very unusual situation but possible. That being said the vast majority of the light we see is coming from some object. The sun is the original source of most light in the day time. Electrical lights are another obvious source of light. There are many other minor sources of light(both astronomical and earthly) today. It is the light that enters our eyes that creates the images we perceive. Most light entering our eyes is reflected from some object. In those cases the object is visible because of the light. When looking at an original source of light we see the object because the light enters our eyes. So in both cases we see the object due to the light.

Answer 3

Light is visible without an object - just look straight into a light source and you can see it. Unless you consider yourself to be an object that interprets the light, of course.

Objects are invisible without light, therefore they are only visible because of light.

Answer 4

Objects are visible because of light. If you look into the headlights of an oncoming car, or at the Sun, or at the image on your computer screen, then you are seeing the light directly. All objects, like the Moon, and chairs, and the computer screen itself (not the image on it), you are using reflected light to see the object.

Answer 5

Well, actually light is visible because we have organs capable of processing the photons that hit them and a brain that can make sense of the signals being sent from these organs. Light outside the "visible" spectrum (infrared, ultraviolet, x-rays, etc.) is all around us, we just can't see it without mechanical assistance.

Anyway, back to your question--think of stars. You see the light thrown off by stars without it being reflected on any surface. It is reasonable to assume, then, that objects are visible because of light, not the other way around.

Answer 6

Nothing is visible without light, but without objects, there would be nothing to produce light in the first place. So matter is primary in a way.

Answer 7

objects are visible because of light,light also determines the colors on the objects.

Answer 8

light is visible without objects just look at the sun.

Answer 9

Except few narrow band of wavelenths, all electro magnetic radiations are not sensed by our eye. Infra red radiations are sensed by our skin.

Those rays which are sensed by our eye are called light rays.

They are called visible light because it helps us to sense them by our eye. They are not visible like objects.

Even when we view a source of light we see only the objects that emit light rays and not the light itself.

Some times we are able to see a beam of light. Even in that case ,we see dust particles or smokes and not the light.

The invisible rays that are emitted by objects or reflected by objects or refracted by objects, on falling on the retina of the eye produces sensations and the brain interprets them as objects.

Thus in fact, the visible lights are invisible but helps us to visualise (see) the objects.

Answer 10

Both. Vision is the reaction of you eyes and brain to light. Without light, objects are not visable. Without objects in the near vacinity of you eyes, there is nothing for the light to reflect off of, and you still see nothing, unless the light source is directed at your eyes.