Light and Color Spectrum

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to light and color, based on the lecture notes.

Visible Spectrum

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be seen by the human eye, consisting of wavelengths from approximately 400nm (violet) to 700nm (red).

Electromagnetic Radiation

A form of energy that travels in waves, which include visible light, radio waves, microwaves, and more.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, causing the separation of different frequencies of light.

Dispersion

The separation of light into its component colors, typically observed with a prism.

Spectrum

A range of different colors produced when white light is dispersed.

ROYGBIV

An acronym representing the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.

Absorption

The process by which an object retains certain wavelengths of light and reflects others, determining its perceived color.

Reflection

The bouncing back of light rays when they hit a surface, contributing to the color appearance of objects.

Colored Light

Light that has been filtered to remove certain wavelengths, allowing only specific colors to pass through.

Filters

Materials that absorb certain wavelengths of light while allowing others to pass through, used to create colored light.