Why do we see Objects as Certain colors?

Last reviewed on: 23rd November, 2020

Our eyes and brain work jointly to translate different wavelengths of light as dissimilar colors. White light is comprised of all likely wavelengths of observable light, and sunlight is very closely white. Physical characteristics of various surfaces cause them to reflect or absorb specific wavelengths. The ones that are reflected to our eyes are what define the color we see. 

Color is just how our brains react to various wavelengths of light, and wavelengths beside the spectrum of visible light are unseen and colorless to us just because our eyes cannot sense them. 

Objects seem to have color as they are able to absorb and reflect specific wavelengths of visible light. An object will look white when it does not absorb any wavelength of observable light (visible). The reflected wavelength of visible light will be scattered therefore the object will look white. 

Also an object will look red when it absorbs all wavelengths of visible light excluding for red, red light is scattered to our eye, so the object looks red. An object will look black when it absorbs all wavelengths of visible light hence no light is scattered to our eye, therefore we see black color. 

The sun radiates white light which is the sum of all wavelengths (colors) of visible light. When light strikes an object for instance a blue car, the object absorbs certain light wavelength and reflects the rest of it (blue color). Light wavelengths which are reflected or absorbed vary on the properties of the object. 

While you look at the blue car, the wavelengths of reflected light govern what color you see. The light waves reflect off the blue car's body and strike the light sensitive retina behind your eye where cones found. 

Cones are one type of photoreceptor, the microscopic cells in the retina that react to light. The majority of us have 6 to 7 million cones, and nearly all of them are focused on a 0.3 millimeter spot on the retina known as the fovea centralis. 

All of these cones are different, about 64% of them respond most intensely to red light, while about 34% is responded mostly by green light. Another 2% respond strongest to blue light. 

Humans have three types of cones which help them to detect color more clearly than most mammals, however a lot of animals have the best color vision than us. Numerous birds and fish have four types of cones, aiding them to see ultraviolet light (the light with wavelengths shorter than what the human eye can see).

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Posted by: Lusubilo A. Mwaijengo