The Physics of Colour Perception

What does light quality mean? Fill in the blank: Light quality means the mix of ______ a light gives off—kind of like its own special fingerprint. Different lights give off different mixes, and that can change the way colours look to our eyes.

• colours

• shapes

• sounds

• temperatures

Sunlight has a good mix of all colours, but artificial lights (like bulbs) often give off some colours more than others, which can make things look different.

• True

• False

What can the way a surface looks (rough, shiny, or see-through) change? Fill in the blank: The way a surface looks—like if it’s rough, shiny, or see-through—can change how we see its ______. Rough surfaces spread light out, while shiny ones reflect light more like a mirror.

• colour

• weight

• temperature

• size

The shape of a surface can cause bright spots, shadows, and colour changes that make it harder to match colours exactly when making products.

• True

• False

What happens to the colors that are absorbed by a material?

• They do not bounce back, so we don’t see them.

• They become brighter and more visible.

• They are reflected back to our eyes.

• They change into sound waves.

Why do we see a red apple as red?

• Because it bounces back the red light and absorbs the other colors.

• Because it produces its own red light.

• Because it absorbs all colors including red.

• Because our eyes are only sensitive to red color.

What are the colours we see from an object?

• The colours that bounce off an object and reach our eyes.

• The colours that are absorbed by the object.

• The colours that are present inside the object.

• The colours that are reflected away from our eyes.

Why is it important to know how different lights change which colours can bounce off objects?

• Because it affects which colours we see from the objects.

• Because it changes the shape of the objects.

• Because it makes objects heavier or lighter.

• Because it changes the temperature of the objects.

The way a material reflects and absorbs light is unique and does not change, but the colour we see can change depending on the type of light shining on it.

• True

• False

What tool do people use to measure how a material reflects light to get the exact colour?

• Spectrophotometer

• Barometer

• Caliper

• Thermometer