WHAT IS A RAINBOW?
Light reflects off objects all around you. If light
was not reflected by objects, you wouldn’t see
them.
Reflection happens when light bounces off
an object.
Absorption of light can also make things feel
Absorption happens when light energy moves
warmer.
into matter.
When all the colors of
light are absorbed, the
object looks black.
When all the colors of light
are reflected, the object
looks white.
The light that is absorbed by the object does not
reach your eyes.
Only the reflected light reaches your eyes.
Primary colors of
light
Blue
Green
Red
Color addition - The combination of colors of light.
When two primary colors of light are combined, you
see a secondary color of light
→ White
A pigment is a substance that gives an
opaque object its color.
Almost all objects contain pigment.
A pigment absorbs some colors of
light and reflects others.
Each pigment absorbs at least one color
of light.
When pigments are combined, they absorb more colors of light.
Therefore, fewer colors of light are reflected.
Because more colors of light are
absorbed, mixing pigments is
called color
subtraction.