Colour does not actually exist as a physical property of objects
In short: We often think of objects as possessing inherent colour, but colour is actually a complex interaction. It requires light, a functioning eye, and a brain to interpret electromagnetic radiation. Without light, the vibrant world around us simply ceases to have any hue, lightness, or saturation.
To understand colour, one must look at the intersection of physics, physiology, and psychology. In physics, colour is defined by electromagnetic radiation within a specific range of wavelengths visible to the human eye. An object appears coloured only because of how it interacts with this light. However, seeing colour requires more than just the presence of light; it requires a certain critical intensity of light to allow the eye to distinguish hues, and a brain capable of processing the resulting sensory data.
The scientific understanding of this phenomenon underwent a massive shift in 1666. For centuries, following the views of Aristotle, it was believed that colour was produced by mixing white and black. This changed when Isaac Newton conducted his famous prism experiments. Newton demonstrated that a prism could decompose white light into a continuous spectrum of colours. He famously identified seven distinct segments—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—purposely choosing seven names to create an analogy with the seven notes of the musical scale.
Despite the physics of light, the perception of colour remains subjective. Because the process involves the mind comparing visual data with stored memories, the psychology of colour comes into play. This means that even under identical lighting conditions, one observer might perceive an object as red while another sees it as orange. Beyond these spectral colours, nature also offers 'pure structural colour,' which represents some of the brightest and boldest colours in the natural world, a phenomenon explored by scientist Andrew Parker.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What is colour?
- Also: Color | Definition, Perception, Types, & Facts | Britannica
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/gardening-what-is-colour.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Gardening · Latest · A–Z · All topics
