Question

The perceived color of an object, determined by the wavelengths of the light reflected from its surface after selective absorption of other wavelengths of the incident light is ___________.

Answer 1

The color we see in an object is determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects, known as its true color. This true color is due to the object’s absorption characteristics and doesn’t change with lighting, thanks to color constancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The perceived color of an object, determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects after selective absorption, is known as its true color. This true color remains constant regardless of the lighting conditions due to an object's innate absorption characteristics. For instance, feathers that appear blue on a crimson rosella do so because they absorb other colors and reflect blue wavelengths. This ability to identify color despite changes in lighting is known as color constancy. An object's color can indeed vary under different illuminations; a blue object under red light appears black because it absorbs the red light. However, its true color is inherent and does not change with illumination. Thus, when we consider the fascinating array of colors perceived, it becomes apparent that the light reflecting to our eyes is a mixture of wavelengths not absorbed by the object.