What makes materials seem colored?

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In summary, the reason for a material's color depends on various factors such as absorption, reflection, luminescence, and scattering. While most colors are a result of absorption and reflection, there are special cases where other mechanisms are responsible, such as LEDs and the blue sky.
  • #1
hokhani
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I don't know the reason of materials' color? Why one matter is blue and another is red? Which mechanism is responsible for their color; Absorption, Luminescence, Scattering, Reflection?
 
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  • #2
Short answer: It depends :)

Longer answer: In most cases, I would say that absorption / reflection is the reason that we see a certain color: if you shine white light (i.e. a mixture of all frequencies) onto a material, it will absorb some of the colors and reflect the rest. However, there are special cases in which the color is caused by another mechanism. For example, LEDs work by virtue of luminescence and the sky is blue because of scattering and not because it absorbs all other colors.
 
  • #3
CompuChip said:
Short answer: It depends :)

Longer answer: In most cases, I would say that absorption / reflection is the reason that we see a certain color: if you shine white light (i.e. a mixture of all frequencies) onto a material, it will absorb some of the colors and reflect the rest. However, there are special cases in which the color is caused by another mechanism. For example, LEDs work by virtue of luminescence and the sky is blue because of scattering and not because it absorbs all other colors.
Thanks a lot.
 

1. What causes the perception of color in materials?

Color is perceived when light interacts with matter. When white light from the sun or a light source hits a material, some of the light is absorbed while the rest is reflected. The reflected light is what we see as color.

2. Why do different materials have different colors?

The color of a material is determined by its chemical composition and the way it interacts with light. Different materials absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light, resulting in different colors.

3. Can the color of a material change?

Yes, the color of a material can change due to various factors such as exposure to light, heat, or chemical reactions. For example, leaves change color in the fall due to changes in temperature and light exposure.

4. How does the structure of a material affect its color?

The structure of a material can affect its color by influencing how light is absorbed and reflected. For example, materials with a smooth surface reflect light differently than those with a rough surface, resulting in different colors.

5. Are all colors in materials visible to the human eye?

No, some colors in materials are not visible to the human eye. Ultraviolet and infrared light, for example, are outside of the visible light spectrum and cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can still affect the perceived color of a material.

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