Seeing colour

Seeing colour

Light can be split into a spectrum by using a glass prism. This is because each wavelength of light refracts differently in the prism.

Opaque materials are ones that won’t allow visible light to pass through.
Certain wavelengths of light will be reflected while the rest will be absorbed. The material will appear to be a colour corresponding to the reflected wavelengths.
White materials will reflect all wavelengths of visible light while black materials will absorb all wavelengths.
Colour filters are transparent materials that only allow certain wavelengths of visible light to pass through. The other wavelengths are absorbed. They are used to isolate certain colours in light.

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