Final answer:
The color you see is a wavelength of light that was not absorbed. This is because objects reflect light that isn't absorbed, which is then perceived as color by our eyes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The color you see is a wavelength of light that was not absorbed. Light that is not absorbed by an object's surface or material is reflected into our eyes, and this is the color we perceive. For instance, if we see a red apple, it's because the pigments in the apple's skin absorb other wavelengths of visible light, specifically yellow, green, and blue, while reflecting the red wavelengths. This reflected light is what makes the apple appear red to the human eye.
Meanwhile, objects that appear yellow to us are reflecting wavelengths that correspond to yellow and absorbing the complementary colors. The color vision process is a result of light being transmitted, reflected, or refracted by distinct structures and substances, including pigments which reflect particular wavelengths and absorb others.