What color would a yellow cloth appear if illuminated with sunlight? With yellow light? With blue light?
The light we see from a reflecting object is spectra that is reflected. So green grass appears green because green is reflected. The blues, reds, are absorbed by the grass. Does that help?
When a yellow cloth is illuminated with sunlight, it will appear yellow. This is because sunlight contains all colors of visible light, and the yellow cloth reflects the yellow part of the light spectrum while absorbing the other colors.
If the yellow cloth is illuminated with yellow light, it will appear more vibrant and intense in color. This is because the yellow light will enhance the yellow color of the cloth, and there will be no other colors present to interfere or be absorbed.
If the yellow cloth is illuminated with blue light, it will appear darker or possibly greenish. This is because blue light has a complementary relationship with yellow. When blue light shines on the yellow cloth, it will be partially absorbed, resulting in a reduction in the overall brightness and a shift towards the complementary color, which is green. The exact appearance may depend on the specific shade of yellow and intensity of the blue light.
To determine the color of a cloth when illuminated by different sources of light, you need to understand the concept of color perception and how light interacts with objects.
Color perception is based on the way objects absorb, reflect, and transmit light. When light interacts with an object, the object absorbs certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. The color we perceive is determined by the wavelengths of light that are reflected back into our eyes.
Now, let's consider your specific scenarios:
1. Illuminated with sunlight:
Sunlight contains all the visible wavelengths of light, ranging from violet to red. When a yellow cloth is illuminated with sunlight, it reflects the yellow wavelengths of light and absorbs most of the other colors. Therefore, the cloth will appear as its true and original color, which is yellow.
2. Illuminated with yellow light:
If the yellow cloth is illuminated with yellow light, the cloth will reflect the yellow wavelengths and absorb most of the other colors. In this case, since the yellow cloth is already yellow, it will still appear as yellow.
3. Illuminated with blue light:
When blue light shines on a yellow cloth, the cloth will absorb the blue wavelengths of light and reflect the yellow wavelengths. This is because the color of an object results from the wavelengths of light it reflects. Therefore, when illuminated with blue light, the yellow cloth will appear darker or even black, as it absorbs the blue light and reflects very little light back to our eyes.
In summary, a yellow cloth will appear yellow when illuminated by sunlight or yellow light. However, when illuminated by blue light, it will appear darker or even black due to its absorption of the blue wavelengths.