Visible Spectrum
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This diagram is about sunlight, the visible spectrum and which wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation correspond with the different colours we see in the world.
The diagram shows that wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum correspond with the different colours we see in the world.
Notice that:
- The white arrows in the diagram represent the Sun emitting sunlight at every wavelength of the visible spectrum.
- The term white light is used when all colours of the visible spectrum are mixed together.
- The coloured arrows represent six bands of wavelengths of visible light corresponding with red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
- The list on the left shows the range of wavelengths corresponding with each band of colour.
- The red arrow, for example, corresponds with wavelengths between 700 nanometres and 620 nanometres.
- Red is the colour an observer sees if any wavelength in that range strikes a neutral coloured surface.
- The scale along the bottom is marked in nanometres and shows the visible spectrum divided into coloured bands.
Description
Visible Spectrum
Visible Spectrum
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About the diagram
About the diagram
- This diagram is about sunlight, the visible spectrum and which wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation correspond with the different colours we see in the world.
- The diagram shows that wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum correspond with the different colours we see in the world.
Notice that:
- The white arrows in the diagram represent the Sun emitting sunlight at every wavelength of the visible spectrum.
- The term white light is used when all colours of the visible spectrum are mixed together.
- The coloured arrows represent six bands of wavelengths of visible light corresponding with red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
- The list on the left shows the range of wavelengths corresponding with each band of colour.
- The red arrow, for example, corresponds with wavelengths between 700 nanometres and 620 nanometres.
- Red is the colour an observer sees if any wavelength in that range strikes a neutral-coloured surface.
- The scale along the bottom is marked in nanometres and shows the visible spectrum divided into coloured bands.
Remember that:
- Objects appear to be different colours to an observer depending on their wavelength.
- The name given to light that contains all wavelengths of the visible spectrum is white light.
- When all wavelengths contained in white light reflect off a neutral-coloured surface then the object appears white to an observer.
- When a narrow band of wavelengths reflect off a neutral-coloured surface then the object appears coloured to an observer.
- The colour an observer sees depends on the wavelengths of visible light emitted by a light source and on which of those wavelengths are reflected off an object.
- Although a human observer can distinguish between many thousands of wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum our brains often produce the impression of bands of colour.
Some key terms
Wavelength is a measurement from any point on the path of a wave to the same point on its next oscillation. The measurement is made parallel to the centre-line of the wave.
- The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is measured in metres.
- Each type of electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves, visible light and gamma waves, forms a band of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
- The visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum is composed of the range of wavelengths that correspond with all the different colours we see in the world.
- Human beings don’t see wavelengths of visible light, but they do see the spectral colours that correspond with each wavelength and the other colours produced when different wavelengths are combined.
- The wavelength of visible light is measured in nanometres. There are 1,000,000,000 nanometres to a metre.
Visible light is the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation perceived as colour by human observers.
- Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation.
- Other forms of electromagnetic radiation include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
- Visible light is perceived by a human observer as all the spectral colours between red and violet plus all other colours that result from combining wavelengths together in different proportions.
- A spectral colour is produced by a single wavelength of light.
- The complete range of colours that can be perceived by a human observer is called the visible spectrum.
- The range of wavelengths that produce visible light is a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
A nanometre is a unit of measurement of the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation.
- Nanometres are particularly useful when specifying the wavelength of electromagnetic waves in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- The visible spectrum ranges from around 400 to 700 nm.
The perception of colour by an observer results from properties of light that are visible to the human eye. The visual experience of colour is associated with terms like red, blue and yellow.
- The observation of colour depends on:
- The range and intensity of wavelengths of visible light emitted by a light source, and the various media and materials it encounters on its journey to the retina of a human eye
- Optical phenomena such as absorption, dispersion, diffraction, polarization, reflection, refraction, scattering and transmission.
- Predispositions of an observer, such as their personal and social experience, health and state of mind.
The electromagnetic spectrum includes electromagnetic waves with all possible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, ranging from low energy radio waves through visible light to high energy gamma rays.
- There are no precisely defined boundaries between the bands of electromagnetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum.
- The electromagnetic spectrum includes, in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength: radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays.
- Visible light is only a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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