What affects the intensity of different coloured lights?

In summary, the conversation discussed the results of a practical where the speaker used a light box and different colored plastics to measure light intensity. The results showed that yellow, orange, and violet had the highest intensities while red and green had the lowest. They also discussed whether the wavelength or frequency of each color affected the intensity or if there were other factors involved. The speaker also mentioned using a graph to analyze the data and asked about the type of light source being used.
  • #1
Breanna
3
0
Okay, so I have completed a practical where I used a light box and then placed different coloured plastics in front of the light and measured the light intensity of each colour. From the results I found that yellow, orange and violet had the highest intensities, with red and green having the lowest intensity, with blue in the middle.

What made this happen? Does the wavelength of each colour change the intensity? or is it the frequency? or is it another factor?

If possible could someone please help! :)
 
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  • #2
Breanna said:
different coloured plastics in front of the light
There's just the one light source?
 
  • #3
yes, there was only one light source
 
  • #4
Have you plotted "intensity" versus frequency/wavelength?
 
  • #5
Bystander said:
Have you plotted "intensity" versus frequency/wavelength?
Yeah that is the main graph that is being used for analysis
Untitled.png
 
  • #6
What do you know about the source? Incandescent filament? CFL? Something else?
 

FAQ: What affects the intensity of different coloured lights?

What affects the intensity of different coloured lights?

The intensity of different coloured lights can be affected by several factors, including the source of the light, the distance from the source, the properties of the material the light is passing through, and the properties of the human eye.

How does the source of the light affect its intensity?

The source of the light, whether it is a natural source like the sun or an artificial source like a light bulb, can greatly affect the intensity of the light. Natural sources tend to emit a wider spectrum of light, while artificial sources may emit a more focused or limited spectrum.

What impact does distance from the light source have on intensity?

The intensity of light decreases as distance from the source increases. This is because light spreads out as it travels, so the same amount of light is spread over a larger area, resulting in a decrease in intensity.

How do different materials affect the intensity of coloured light?

The properties of different materials, such as their transparency and reflectivity, can impact the intensity of coloured light. Transparent materials allow light to pass through, while opaque materials absorb or reflect light, resulting in a decrease in intensity.

How does the human eye perceive differences in intensity of different coloured lights?

The human eye has different types of photoreceptors that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. This means that the intensity of certain colours may appear brighter or dimmer to the human eye, depending on the sensitivity of these photoreceptors.

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