What is Color?
Color is a visible form of electromagnetic radiation ranging from wavelengths of 400 nm (Violet) to 700 nm (Red). There is radiation beyond the visible spectrum below 400 nm is UV rays (Ultra Violet) the same radiation that causes sun burns. And above 700 nm is infrared, which is used in conjunction with night vision goggles by the military to illuminates areas and to communicate. Rarely is a color composed of only one wave length it is usually a spectrum of wavelengths. For any given light source it has a certain luminosity, the amount of energy that is produced every second. And it also has an intensity, which is the amount of energy per second that goes through a unit area.
A wavelength is the distance for a wave from peak to peak (or valley to valley). Below is an illustration of a wavelength.
Below is the color spectrum and the associated wavelengths of each color.
|
|
| Color |
Wavelength |
| violet |
380-450 nm |
| blue |
450-495 nm |
| green |
495-570 nm |
| yellow |
570-590 nm |
| orange |
590-620 nm |
| red |
620-750 nm |
|
