Do two light waves with difference frequencies connect when they meet?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the interaction of light waves with different frequencies, specifically whether two light waves, such as blue and yellow, combine to form a new frequency (green) when they meet. Participants explore concepts related to color perception, the behavior of light through filters, and the distinction between additive and subtractive color mixing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that blue light (450 THz) and yellow light (508 THz) could combine to create green light (526 THz), questioning whether this is an illusion or a real change in frequency.
  • Another participant argues that light waves do not combine in the way suggested, stating that instruments can still recognize different frequencies when two colors are shone together.
  • A question is raised about whether a green filter would block green light if it originates from a mix of blue and green light.
  • Participants discuss how filters work, noting that they block specific frequencies and that the outcome depends on the exact wavelengths involved and the characteristics of the filter.
  • One participant expresses concern that the original claim about mixing colors may reflect a misunderstanding of color mixing principles, emphasizing the difference between additive mixing of light and subtractive mixing of pigments.
  • Another participant elaborates on the human color vision model, explaining how different color sensors in the eye respond to various wavelengths and how this affects color perception.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus. There are competing views on whether light waves combine to form new frequencies and how filters interact with mixed light. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of color mixing in light versus pigments.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of specifying the definitions of "blue light," "green light," and "green color blocker" to clarify the discussion. There are also mentions of the psychological effects of color perception and the complexity of color mixing theories.

danielhaish
Messages
152
Reaction score
10
for example the blue light wave have frequency of about 450Thz and the yellow wave have frequency of about 508thz (I found this data in the internet) , so if this two wave would get closer to each other we would observe them as green wave which have frequency of 526Thz .
so my question is weather it just an illusion or does the frequency of the light is really changes , for example what would happens if we will try to point the light to a green filter does it block it or not
 
Science news on Phys.org
Light waves don't combine in that sense, no. If you shine two lights of different colours onto one spot, instruments will still be able to recognise that there are two different frequencies of light. The "mixing" of two colours two make a third is how your eye-brain system interprets a given stimulus. For example, just look at your screen with a magnifying glass and you'll be able to see that whatever colour it appears to be, it's doing it with an array of red, green and blue dots that are close enough to blur together.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: PeroK, berkeman and danielhaish
so basically no way that green color blocker would block green light if it source is blue light and green light?
 
danielhaish said:
so basically no way that green color blocker would block green light if it source is blue light and green light?
Filters block specific frequencies. If you have light that is a mix of two frequencies, one of which is absorbed by the filter and the other of which is transmitted then you will get one of the frequencies transmitted and one absorbed.

What happens in your example depends on what you mean by "blue light", "green light" and a "green color blocker". If your light is a mix of two monochromatic sources, say 400nm (typical blue) and 550nm (typical green), and your filter absorbs wavelengths between 500 and 600nm and nothing else then the green component will be absorbed and the blue component passed. But a "green color blocker" might absorb some frequencies you'd call blue - so you need to specify exactly what light and what filter you have if you want an unequivocal answer.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: danielhaish
Ibix said:
Filters block specific frequencies. If you have light that is a mix of two frequencies, one of which is absorbed by the filter and the other of which is transmitted then you will get one of the frequencies transmitted and one absorbed.

What happens in your example depends on what you mean by "blue light", "green light" and a "green color blocker". If your light is a mix of two monochromatic sources, say 400nm (typical blue) and 550nm (typical green), and your filter absorbs wavelengths between 500 and 600nm and nothing else then the green component will be absorbed and the blue component passed. But a "green color blocker" might absorb some frequencies you'd call blue - so you need to specify exactly what light and what filter you have if you want an unequivocal answer.
thanks so I guess there isn't any filter that blocks the yellow light and the blue light but doesn't block them when they combine together
 
danielhaish said:
so if this two wave would get closer to each other we would observe them as green wave which have frequency of 526Thz .
This sentence is worrying me. That could mean that you are using the" Yellow and Blue 'make' Green" thing that we start our colour experiences with . This is true when you mix paints or pigments and it works by Subtractive Mixing with primary coloured pigments. You are proposing Additive Mixing of coloured spectral monochromatic light But with coloured light or with pigments, the colours we see are a total psychological effect in human colour vision. Electromagnetic waves of any frequencies do not affect each other.
To get a clue about colour vision you need to read about it. This wiki article has a lot of what you need to know.
The fairly well accepted model for human colour vision says that we have just three sets of colour sensors. One that is sensitive to a broad range of spectral reddish colours, one that is sensitive to the greenish range and one that is sensitive to blues. Thinking of the sensors as having colour filters, those filters are actually very broad and actually overlap a lot (see the wiki link). When we look at any colour (including a monochromatic source) all three sensors may get a signal and we assess the colour on the basis of the ratios of the three signals.
Spectral Yellow will stimulate your red and green sensors mainly and Spectral Blue will stimulate (almost exclusively) your blue sensor ( and the green sensor very slightly).

So what will your brain make of that? Because there is some blue and some yellow, the green sensor will register some green because the 400THz is well within its filter passband and the blue sensor will see the Blue - so probably a greenish colour BUT also the Red sensor will detect a fair bit of that Yellow wavelength and the brain will interpret the colour (some red some green and some blue signals) as Green and White - or a de-saturated greenish colour.

The primary colours that are used in TV additive mixing are Red Green and Blue and you can obtain a whole range of perceived colours by using the appropriate quantities of each. If you want to understand paints etc. then search for Subtractive Colour Mixing, which is much more complicated and best avoided until you get the above.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: danielhaish

Similar threads

  • · Replies 207 ·
7
Replies
207
Views
14K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K