2007-05-25 20:47:11 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
White light is a mixture of a large number of individual colors, each of which has a specific wavelength. So, when white light is passed through a prism or a grating, it is divided into the individual wavelengths (that is what is called the spectum) and we see the different colors separately. If the different lights of the spectrum are reversed through another prism, we again get white light.
We see colors because of some specific sensors in our eyes. They are called rods and cones. If there is some problem with them, some people cannot see all the colors.
We also cannot see color when the light is very less or very bright.
What we see as white light is a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum which extends from very hard gamma rays (of very low wavelength) to radio waves (of very long wavelength). All of them travel at the same speed and can travel through vacuum too.
2007-05-25 21:05:25 · answer #1 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Color is interesting, because it is half physics and half psychology! The spectrum is a a little less than an octave of EM radiation. In the human eye, we have 3 types of detectors corresponding to the 3 primary colors. The nature of the chemical dye in each type of detector determines what color it responds too most strongly. Or brains integrate the signals from thousands of these detectors to give us the colors we see!
2007-05-26 04:06:15 · answer #2 · answered by Charley M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the word "spectrum" holds the answer to your question!
2007-05-26 03:56:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
visible light (color) all have different wavelengths. and our eyes preceive these different wavelengths as different colors. that's why there is color.
2007-05-26 03:55:05 · answer #4 · answered by kitty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They all have different wavelengths :-)
2007-05-26 03:51:57 · answer #5 · answered by maidmaz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋