Colours Of Light

The diagram shows a ray of light incident on a glass prism. A band of different colours is formed on a white screen. The diagram shows a ray of light incident on a glass prism. A band of different colours is formed on a white screen. Complete the following statements.   The bending of light rays, X, Y and Z is called ________________________.  

The splitting of white light into different colours at X is known as the ________________________ of light.    

The name given to the coloured band formed on the screen between P and Q is called the ________________________.  

The end Q of the band is coloured ________________________.

Name the colours produced by white light between P and Q.   _____________________________________________________________  

The diagram shows the mixing of three colours of light. . Choose the correct colour for each region.

• A.

  W - yellow; X- cyan ; Y- magenta ; Z-white

• B.

  W - cyan ; X- magenta ; Y- yellow ; Z-white

• C.

  W - magenta ; X- cyan ; Y- yellow ; Z- white

• D.

  W - white ; X- cyan ; Y- magenta ; Z- yellow

A green object will appear _(i)_ in region W and it will appear _(ii)_ in region X

• A.

  (i) green ; (ii) black

• B.

  (i) red ; (ii) blue

• C.

  (i) black ; (ii) green

• D.

  (i) white ; (ii) black

A blue object placed in region Z will appear _(i)_ and when placed in region Y will appear _(ii)_.

• A.

  (i) green ; (ii) red

• B.

  (i) white ; (ii) blue

• C.

  (i) black ; (ii) white

• D.

  (i) blue ; (ii) black

The reason things appear to be a colour is because they _ absorb / reflect_____ that colour of light.  

The primary colours are _____________________.  

Light colours mix the same way paint does.

• A.

  True

• B.

  False

• C.

  If the pigments are compatible

The colour white ________________.

• A.

  Absorbs all light

• B.

  Reflects all light

• C.

  Deflects all light

Two light sources are placed above a white sheet of paper. When the lights are turned on they illuminate the entire sheet of paper (as seen in the diagram below). Each light bulb emits a primary colour of light - red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Depending on which primary colour of light is used, the paper will appear a different colour. Express your understanding of colour addition by determining the colour that the sheet of paper will appear in the diagrams below. The three colours produced should be written in the correct order, as shown in the diagram below, separated by a comma in between. Eg. red, yellow, blue

Natural philosophers have long pondered the underlying reasons for colour in nature. One common historical belief was that coloured objects in nature produce small particles (perhaps light particles) that subsequently reach our eyes. Different objects produce different coloured particles, thus contributing to their different appearance. Is this belief accurate? Justify your answer.