Final answer:
Our sense of color is primarily dependent on the wavelength of light, with human eyes perceiving color within a spectrum of 380 nm to 740 nm. Perception is influenced by how objects absorb or reflect different wavelengths and the varying lighting conditions under which we view them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Our sense of color depends on the wavelength of light that enters our eyes. Light has a spectrum of colors, each associated with a different wavelength. For example, red light has a longer wavelength (around 700 nanometers) and lower frequency, while violet has a shorter wavelength (around 400 nanometers) and higher frequency.
These wavelengths are within the visible spectrum for humans, which ranges from approximately 380 nm to 740 nm. However, our perception of color is not just a direct correlation to single wavelengths; it is also affected by the light-absorbing properties of objects and the light sources illuminating them.
The true color of an object depends on its absorption and reflection of different wavelengths. If a red shirt absorbs all frequencies of light except for red, it appears red to us because the red wavelengths are reflected. Our eyes receive and process light energies of different frequencies, and our brains blend these to perceive various colors, including hues not directly aligned with pure wavelengths, like brown and pink.
Moreover, our color vision can maintain color constancy, perceiving the true color of objects under varying lighting conditions because of our eye-brain system's ability to compare objects' colors with their surroundings.