Why do we see certain colours?

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In summary, our ability to see certain colours is due to cone cells in our eyes that detect different wavelengths of light and send signals to our brain. The color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects, and people may perceive colours differently due to variations in their cone cells. Our perception of colour can also be influenced by our environment, such as lighting and background, and our brain can be tricked into seeing certain colours through optical illusions.
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Biologik
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When I look at an apple, why do I see it as red, and not another color in the visible EM spectrum? Is it determined on an atomic scale?
 
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  • #2
Yes, it has to do with resonance frequencies for the electrons in the molecules on the surface of the skin. So even though you shine white light on the apple's skin, a majority of the reflected light is red.

It is also known as absorption and stimulated emission.
 

Why do we see certain colours?

1. How do we perceive colours?

Our eyes contain special cells called cone cells, which are responsible for detecting different wavelengths of light. These cone cells send signals to our brain, which processes the information and allows us to perceive different colours.

Why do we see certain colours?

2. What causes different objects to have different colours?

The color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of light that it reflects. For example, an object that appears red absorbs all wavelengths of light except for red, which it reflects back to our eyes.

Why do we see certain colours?

3. Why do some people see colours differently?

People perceive colours differently due to variations in their cone cells. Some people may have more or less of a certain type of cone cell, which can affect how they perceive certain colours.

Why do we see certain colours?

4. Is our perception of colour influenced by our environment?

Yes, our perception of colour can be influenced by factors such as lighting, background, and contrast. For example, the same shade of blue may appear different in different lighting conditions.

Why do we see certain colours?

5. Can our brain trick us into seeing certain colours?

Yes, our brain can sometimes be tricked into seeing certain colours due to optical illusions. These illusions can occur when our brain tries to make sense of conflicting information from our eyes.

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