Question

Which of the following correctly matches the pattern in our perception of color as we move from short wavelengths to long wavelengths? a. red to orange to yellow b. yellow to orange to red c. yellow to red to orange d. orange to yellow to red

Short answer

The correct option is (b) 'yellow to orange to red'.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum and Visible Light

Visible light is a very small section of the electromagnetic spectrum, which covers a range of wavelengths. Short wavelengths correspond to the blue end of the spectrum (approximately 400nm), while long wavelengths correspond to the red end of the spectrum (approximately 700nm). As we move from short wavelengths to long wavelengths, the sequence variation of colors perceived in visible light follows the order of the rainbow or the 'ROYGBIV' system; that is 'red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet', but we need to read it backward as we start from the short wavelength side.

Matching the Pattern in our Perception of Color

According to above understanding, as we move from short wavelengths to long wavelengths, the sequence in terms of colors should be from violet, blue, green, yellow, orange to red. This can be observed in natural phenomenon such as rainbows. This order is the reverse of the ROYGBIV system.

Selecting the Correct Option

From the provided options, only option (b) 'yellow to orange to red' falls within the described sequence. So it matches the pattern in our perception of color as we move from short wavelengths to long wavelengths.

Key concepts

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum is a broad range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. It spans from very short wavelengths, like gamma rays, to extremely long wavelengths such as radio waves.
However, only a tiny part of this extensive spectrum is visible to the human eye. This portion is called visible light.

• The electromagnetic spectrum includes different types of waves like radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
• Each type of wave in the spectrum has its unique range of wavelengths and represents different energies.

Understanding the electromagnetic spectrum helps us know why we see colors in specific ways and how these colors transition when their wavelengths change.
Every color that we see lies within this narrow band of visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Visible Light

Various ranges of wavelengths in visible light correspond to different colors that humans can perceive. This means that visible light forms a crucial part of our daily experiences.

• Visible light falls between approximately 380 nanometers and 750 nanometers.
• This spectrum includes all the colors we can see, each associated with a specific range of wavelengths.

When light travels through a medium like a prism, the different wavelengths are refracted to different degrees, which splits the light into a spectrum of colors, much like a rainbow.
Each color in visible light corresponds to a different wavelength. Longer wavelengths correspond to red, while shorter wavelengths are associated with violet.
This sequence forms a pattern akin to that seen in phenomena like rainbows, providing a fascinating visual display of the electromagnetic spectrum's visible part.

Wavelengths

Wavelengths are an essential concept in understanding how we perceive different colors. They describe the distance between successive peaks of a wave.
In visible light, each color is associated with a specific wavelength. The understanding of wavelengths not only helps us in identifying colors but also in grasping why certain colors appear before others when light is dispersed, like in a rainbow.

• Shorter wavelengths start around 380 nm for violet, moving through blue and finally reaching the longer end with red at about 750 nm.
• This transition from short to long wavelengths causes color perception to change from violet, across blues and greens, to yellow, orange, and red finally.

Recognition of these wavelengths is critical in applications ranging from creating art to using scientific equipment.
By grasping the variation in wavelengths, we can comprehend the sequence and perception of colors as light shifts from lower to higher wavelengths.