Color of light

When different colors of light overlap, they combine

to form new colors through a process called additive color
mixing. This principle is based on the primary colors of
light: red, green, and blue. Here’s a breakdown of how
overlapping light colors create different results:
1. Red + Green = Yellow: When red and green light
overlap, they produce yellow light.
2. Red + Blue = Magenta: Overlapping red and blue
light creates magenta.
3. Green + Blue = Cyan: When green and blue light
overlap, the result is cyan.

When all three primary colors of light—red, green,

and blue—are combined at full intensity, they produce
white light. This additive color mixing is fundamental in
various technologies, such as displays and stage lighting,
where blending light colors creates a range of visible
colors.
In the context of additive color mixing (with light),
black is the absence of any light rather than a color
created by overlapping different lights. When no light is
present or when all colors of light are blocked, the result
is perceived as black.
Example
You have two flashlights: one with red light and the
other with green light. When you shine both flashlights
onto the same spot on a white wall, what color will you
see on the wall?

You are setting up a stage with colored lights. You

have a green spotlight and a blue spotlight, both pointing
at the same area on the stage. What color will appear in
the area where the lights overlap?

You have a white light source that contains red,

green, and blue light. You place three filters in front of the
light: a red filter, a green filter, and a blue filter, each
blocking its respective color. What color will you observe
on the other side of the filters?
 In a photography setup, you have three colored
lights: red, green, and blue. If you adjust each light to full
intensity and point them all to the same spot on a white
background, what color will appear at the spot where
they overlap?

Looking at colored objects

Objects absorb and reflect light based on their
atomic and molecular structures, which dictate how they
interact with different wavelengths of light. Here’s a
breakdown of the process:
1. Absorption of Light:
When light strikes an object, certain wavelengths
(colors) of light may be absorbed by the object’s atoms or
molecules. The absorbed light energy causes electrons in
the atoms to jump to higher energy levels. This energy is
usually converted into other forms, such as heat, which is
why some objects feel warm when exposed to light. The
specific wavelengths that are absorbed depend on the
material's chemical composition.
2. Reflection of Light:
Wavelengths that are not absorbed are instead
reflected or transmitted. Reflected wavelengths are the
ones that determine the color we perceive. For example,
a red object absorbs most other wavelengths but reflects
red light, so we see it as red. The smoothness of the
object’s surface also affects reflection; smooth surfaces,
like mirrors, reflect light in a specific direction (specular
reflection), while rough surfaces scatter light in many
directions (diffuse reflection).
Example
Explain why the leaf appears green to an observer.

Suppose a red filter is placed between the light

source and the leaf, allowing only red light to pass
through. What color would the leaf appear to the
observer now?
Changing ideas: light
Light emission and intromission theories are two
ancient explanations for how we see objects and perceive
light.
Light Emission Theory
The light emission theory, also known as the
“emission theory” or “extramission theory,” was
proposed by ancient philosophers, notably Plato and
Euclid. According to this idea:
Vision occurs because the eyes emit rays or particles
of light that travel outward.
When these rays interact with objects, the interaction
creates visual perception.
This concept suggests that vision depends on
something emitted by the eyes. It was a popular view for
a long time but faced challenges explaining some
observations, like why we can’t see in the dark.
Intromission Theory
The intromission theory, alternatively known as the
“intromission model” or “influx theory,” was supported by
Aristotle and later philosophers like Alhazen (Ibn al-
Haytham). This theory proposes:
Vision happens because external objects emit
light (or particles of some kind) that travel into our
eyes.
 Light or image particles emitted from objects
enter the eye, creating an image or perception of
that object.
Intromission theory aligns more closely with the
modern understanding of vision, in which light from
external sources reflects off objects and enters the eye,
allowing us to see.
Modern Understanding
Today, the intromission theory is closer to the
accepted explanation of how vision works:
Light from a source (like the sun or a lightbulb)
reflects off objects.
This reflected light enters the eye through the cornea
and is focused onto the retina, where photoreceptor cells
process it.
This information is then sent to the brain, which interprets
the signals to form a visual image.
If the emission theory were true, would it be possible to
see in a completely dark room with no external light
source? Explain your answer.
Imagine you’re observing a red apple in daylight.
According to the intromission theory, what path does light
take from the apple to your eye, and why does the apple
appear red?

The eyes and the camera

The eye is a complex organ with several critical parts,
each playing an essential role in vision. Here are the main
components and their functions:
1. Cornea: This clear, dome-shaped surface at the front
of the eye helps focus incoming light onto the retina.
It acts as a protective layer and provides most of the
eye’s optical power.
2. Iris: The colored part of the eye, the iris, regulates
the size of the pupil. By adjusting the pupil’s
diameter, it controls the amount of light that enters
the eye.
3. Pupil: This black circular opening in the center of the
iris adjusts size based on light conditions, similar to a
camera aperture. It widens in low light to allow more
light in and contracts in bright light.
4. Lens: Situated behind the pupil, the lens focuses light
onto the retina. It changes shape (a process called
accommodation) to help the eye focus on objects at
various distances.
5. Retina: The retina is the thin, light-sensitive layer at
the back of the eye. It contains photoreceptor cells
called rods and cones, which convert light into
electrical signals. Rods are responsible for low-light
and peripheral vision, while cones are responsible for
color vision and detail.
6. Macula: Located at the center of the retina, the
macula provides the clearest vision and is crucial for
tasks requiring detailed sight, such as reading and
driving. The fovea, a part of the macula, provides the
sharpest vision.
7. Optic Nerve: This nerve carries electrical signals from
the retina to the brain, where they are processed and
interpreted as visual images.
8. Vitreous Humor: This gel-like substance fills the
space between the lens and the retina, maintaining
the eye’s shape and allowing light to pass through to
the retina.
How compared eyes and camera
1. **Cornea (Eye) vs. Lens (Camera):

Eye: The cornea is the transparent, curved surface that

focuses light as it enters the eye, providing most of the
eye’s optical power.

Camera: The camera lens focuses light entering the

camera and directs it onto the sensor or film. The lens’
curvature determines the clarity and focal length, similar
to the cornea’s function.

2. **Iris (Eye) vs. Aperture (Camera):

Eye: The iris controls the size of the pupil, adjusting to

light conditions. It regulates how much light enters the
eye.

Camera: The aperture of the camera controls the size of

the opening through which light passes, regulating how
much light hits the camera sensor. It functions similarly to
the iris by adjusting light levels.
 3. **Pupil (Eye) vs. Shutter (Camera):

Eye: The pupil is the black circular opening in the center

of the iris. It dilates or constricts in response to light,
helping control the amount of light entering the eye.

Camera: The shutter controls the duration for which light

is allowed to hit the sensor. It opens and closes, similar to
how the pupil adjusts to light levels.

4. **Lens (Eye) vs. Lens (Camera):

Eye: The lens of the eye focuses light onto the retina. It
changes shape (accommodation) to focus on objects at
different distances.

Camera: The camera lens focuses light onto the sensor or

film. It can be adjusted (zooming or changing focal
length) to focus on objects at different distances, similar
to the eye lens’ accommodation.
 5. **Retina (Eye) vs. Image Sensor (Camera):

Eye: The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of

the eye. It contains photoreceptors (rods and cones) that
convert light into electrical signals sent to the brain for
processing.

Camera: The image sensor (such as a CCD or CMOS

sensor) captures light and converts it into electrical
signals, just like the retina. It then processes these
signals to form an image.

6. **Macula (Eye) vs. Sensor’s Focal Point (Camera):

Eye: The macula, particularly the fovea in its center, is

responsible for sharp, detailed vision, particularly in the
center of the visual field.
Camera: The focal point of the camera sensor is where
light is most focused, providing the sharpest image. This
corresponds to the macula’s role in providing detailed
vision.

7. **Optic Nerve (Eye) vs. Data Cable/Processor

(Camera):

Eye: The optic nerve transmits electrical signals from the

retina to the brain for interpretation, creating the visual
image we perceive.

Camera: The data cable or processor transmits the

captured image data from the sensor to a memory card
or directly to the processor for image rendering.

8. **Vitreous Humor (Eye) vs. Camera Body (Camera):

Eye: The vitreous humor is the gel-like substance inside

the eye that helps maintain its shape and allows light to
travel to the retina without obstruction.
Camera: The camera body houses and supports the
sensor and lens, maintaining the structural integrity of
the camera and ensuring light can pass through the lens
to the sensor.
Example
In the human eye, the iris regulates the amount of light
that enters through the pupil, while in a camera, the
aperture serves a similar function.
a) Explain how the iris and aperture adjust to different
lighting conditions and their impact on vision or image
quality.
b) If the eye’s iris is unable to dilate or constrict properly
due to a medical condition, what effect would this have
on vision in various lighting environments?
c) How would an aperture set too wide or too narrow in a
camera affect the image?
Problem

1. You have a red light and a blue light shining onto the
same spot on a white screen. What color will appear
where the two lights overlap
2. A stage light setup includes a green light and a red
light. If the red light is turned off and only the green
light is shining on a white surface, what color will be
visible?
3. You have a white light source and place a cyan filter
in front of it. What colors of light will pass through
the filter?
4.
5. A yellow filter is used to transmit only yellow light.
The filter is placed over a white light source, and the
transmitted light passes through a transparent glass
object that absorbs green and blue light but reflects
red and yellow light.
6. 1. What color of light is transmitted through the glass
object
7. 2. If the object absorbs 50% of the light’s energy and
reflects 50%, and the intensity of the transmitted
yellow light is 400 lumens, how much energy is
absorbed by the glass object?
According to the intromission theory, objects reflect
light of various wavelengths, which is why we perceive
them in different colors.
If a blue object is placed under white light (which
contains all colors of visible light), why does the object
appear blue to the human eye according to the
intromission theory? What would happen if the same
object were placed under red light?

In a dark room, no external light is present, and

therefore, no visible objects can be seen.
Question: If we were to follow the emission theory, how
would you expect the behavior of vision to change if a
 person were to wear a pair of glasses designed to
“enhance” the emission of light from their eyes? Would
it help them see in the dark? Why or why not?

Question: In the human eye, the retina captures light and

converts it into electrical signals sent to the brain, while
in a camera, the image sensor captures light and
converts it into data to form an image.
a) Describe the role of the retina in the visual process and
compare it with the function of an image sensor in a
camera.
b) If the retina in the human eye becomes damaged (e.g.,
due to macular degeneration), how would this affect
vision?
c) In a camera, if the image sensor is defective, what are
the common signs of malfunction in the captured images?

Question: The lens in the human eye changes shape to

focus on objects at varying distances, while the camera
lens adjusts its focal length or zoom to achieve focus.
a) Compare the process of accommodation in the human
eye with how a camera lens focuses on an object at
different distances.
b) If a camera lens is faulty and cannot focus properly,
how would the resulting image compare to that of a
properly focused image?
c) What would happen to an image if the human eye lens
could not change shape and remained focused only on
objects at a specific distance?