Understanding Absorption of Light - Why do we see different colors?

Summary

In this educational video presented by Becca Emmerich from Edmund Scientific, the concept of light absorption and its impact on our perception of color is explored. Through engaging demonstrations, including the use of colored filters, gummy bears, and lasers, viewers discover how different objects absorb and reflect various wavelengths of light. Objects appear as specific colors depending on which wavelengths are absorbed or reflected. For instance, a matte black surface absorbs all wavelengths and reflects none, while a white surface reflects all and absorbs none. This visual journey simplifies the complex phenomenon of color perception related to light absorption, making it accessible and fascinating.

Highlights

• Becca Emmerich demystifies light absorption in a fun and accessible way. 🧪
• Matte black surfaces absorb all light; white surfaces reflect all. 🚫⚡
• Colored filters demonstrate selective wavelength absorption and transmission. 📊
• Gummy bears and lasers offer a quirky way to visualize light absorption. 🐻💡
• Light absorption dictates our color perception in day-to-day life. 👀

Key Takeaways

• Objects absorb certain wavelengths and reflect others, which determines their visible color. 🌈
• Black objects absorb all colors; white objects reflect all colors. ⚫⚪
• Colored filters only allow certain wavelengths to pass through, altering visible light. 🔦
• Lasers highlight how different colors are absorbed or reflected by different colored objects. 🎯
• Understanding light absorption is essential for comprehending how we perceive color. 👓

Overview

Becca Emmerich from Edmund Scientific takes us on an enlightening journey to understand how we perceive colors through light absorption. The video kicks off by explaining the fundamental concept of light absorption and reflection, which plays a crucial role in determining the colors we see every day. Through engaging visual demonstrations, Becca shows how objects like matte black paper and a white table interact with light differently, by either reflecting or absorbing it.

The video delves deeper into the science with practical demonstrations using colored filters and a flashlight to illustrate how specific wavelengths of light are absorbed while others pass through. Watching Becca shine a green light through various filters helps viewers grasp why colored objects appear the way they do. Such hands-on experiments clarify how filters manipulate light wavelengths to create different colors.

Adding a delightful twist, Becca engages viewers with colorful gummy bears and lasers to reveal light absorption in action. Red and green lasers interacting with gummy bears of corresponding colors provide a visual treat, showcasing which colors are absorbed or transmitted. This lively presentation reinforces the understanding that our perception of color is dictated by the intricate dance of light absorption and reflection happening all around us.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Absorption and Reflection of Light In the Introduction to Absorption and Reflection of Light chapter, Becca Emmerich, the educational outreach manager at Edmund Optics, explains the concepts of light absorption and reflection. The chapter focuses on how absorption occurs when objects take in certain colors or wavelengths of light, preventing them from being reflected or transmitted through the object. This concept helps explain why we perceive objects as being certain colors, such as when viewing a matte black surface.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Example with Photography Paper and White Table The chapter discusses the properties of different objects in terms of light absorption and reflection. It explains that photography paper absorbs all wavelengths of light, reflecting no colors, whereas a white table reflects all colors by not absorbing any visible wavelengths of light. It notes that most objects absorb only a portion of light, reflecting others, and prepares to demonstrate this concept.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Demonstration with Green Filter and Flashlight The chapter demonstrates the concept of light absorption using a flashlight and different colored filters. It explains that white light from a flashlight contains all colors of the spectrum. When a green filter is used with the flashlight, only green light is allowed to pass through the filter. All other colors, such as red, orange, yellow, blue, and violet, are absorbed, leaving only the green light to pass through.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Explanation of Light Passing Through Filters The chapter explains why we see certain colors when light passes through filters. It describes how colors like red, orange, yellow, blue, and violet are absorbed, while green is reflected, explaining why we see green. It prompts the reader to consider the effects of shining white light through filters of different colors, reminding them that white light contains all colors of the spectrum.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Gummy Bears and Lasers Absorption Demonstration The chapter titled 'Gummy Bears and Lasers Absorption Demonstration' explores the concept of light absorption by using a fun and engaging experiment. It begins by confirming that if someone guesses no light will pass through an object due to all visible wavelengths being absorbed, they are correct. The chapter then proceeds with a demonstration using gummy bears of different colors (green and red) and lasers of matching colors. When the red laser is pointed through the red gummy bears, the red light passes through, demonstrating selective absorption and transmission of light based on color.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Conclusion and Invitation to Learn More This chapter concludes with a demonstration of light absorption using gummy bears of different colors. It is shown that red light is absorbed by a green gummy bear, while green light can pass through a green gummy bear but gets absorbed by a red gummy bear. The chapter encourages readers to practice their understanding of light absorption.

Understanding Absorption of Light - Why do we see different colors? Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 hi I'm Becca emmerich the educational outreach manager at Edmund optics today we are going to talk about absorption and reflection of light and the reason we see certain things as certain colors [Music] absorption of light occurs when an object absorbs certain colors or wavelengths of light not allowing the light to be either reflected or passed through the object some objects like this matte black
• 00:30 - 01:00 photography paper absorb all wavelengths of light and reflect no colors such as red orange yellow green blue or violet other objects like this white table do not absorb any visible wavelengths of light and reflect all of the colors to create white in most cases objects will absorb a portion of light meaning that some wavelengths will be absorbed and others will not let's demonstrate
• 01:00 - 01:30 absorption of light by using a flashlight and different colored filters remember the light from a flashlight is white light and contains all colors of the spectrum let's start with this green filter when we shine the flashlight through the filter only green light passes through all of the other colors including red orange yellow blue and violet are absorbed leaving only green to pass through now let's take a look at
• 01:30 - 02:00 this line colors such as red orange yellow blue and violet are all absorbed only the color green is reflected which is why we see that color when we look at the life knowing that filters absorb light let's think about what would happen if we shine white light through all the different colored filters what do you think will happen can you take an educated guess remember white light is made up of all the colors of the spectrum
• 02:00 - 02:30 if you guess that no light will pass through because all of the visible wavelengths of light are being absorbed you are right now I'll have some fun and demonstrate absorption of light using gummy bears and lasers here I have a few green gummy bears and a few red gummy bears I also have a green laser and a red laser when I point the red laser through the red gummy bears the red light passes through when I point the red laser through the green gummy bears
• 02:30 - 03:00 the light does not pass through this is because the red light is absorbed by the green gummy bear let's try the same experiment using the green laser when I point the green laser through the green gummy bears if the green light passes through when I point the green laser through the red gummy bears the light does not pass through this is because the green light is absorbed by the red gummy bear you can practice your knowledge of absorption of light
• 03:00 - 03:30 wherever you go just remember that we see objects as the colors they are because colors from light that you can't see are absorbed and colors you can see either pass through an object or they reflect off of an object check out Edmund Scientific comm for more fun videos and experiment thanks for watching [Music]