Solve the Mystery: What Does a Red Light Look Like?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perception of light emitted from a spherical red light source in isolation. Participants conclude that the human eye would perceive the light as "all red but in decreasing intensity" only if there were reflective particles present in the environment. Without additional light sources, the spherical light would illuminate the entire field of vision uniformly red, assuming the eye's lens is functioning properly to focus the light. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding light behavior and the role of the eye's lens in visual clarity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of light propagation
  • Knowledge of human eye anatomy, specifically the lens
  • Familiarity with concepts of light reflection and perception
  • Awareness of environmental factors affecting visibility, such as light pollution
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the physics of light propagation and its interaction with surfaces
  • Study the anatomy and function of the human eye, focusing on the lens
  • Explore the effects of atmospheric conditions on light visibility
  • Investigate the principles of color perception and how the brain interprets light
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, optometrists, educators in visual sciences, and anyone interested in the principles of light perception and the human visual system.

Fletcher
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Suppose there was a spherical red light source and that was the only thing that existed. Would your eye see a red ball surrounded by blackness, or would your whole vision be uniformly red, or would you see all red but in decreasing intensity?
 
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In case you haven't- When you look at the stars at night you see bright lights surrounded by blackness. (Works best far away from city lights- spend a night in the Utah desert some time- it's awesome!)

You would only see "all red but in decreasing intensity" if there were a cloud of something to reflect the light around the source.
 
Maybe my question is more biological but, wouldn't light from a sphere come out in every direction and thus hit every part of your eye, assuming there was absoluely no other source of light?
 
Yes, if your eye didn't have a lens on it to focus the light.
 
I had no notion of a lens (I just looked it up) and didn't understand why everything isn't a blur. Thanks.
 

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