Student Name Emily NivensCourse Physics

Lab 8- Light and ColorThis lab will introduce you to Light and Color, as well as have you explore the nature of light in relation to color. For this lab follow the instructions below and answer the questions. Please make sure that you give as much detail as possible in your final assignment. Access: Click on Light & Radiation. Launch the Color Vision Simulation.

Part I – Use the RGB Bulbs Tab• Each light has a color gradient. For the best results, slide the bar to the very top of each

color. Each color should be observed individually for this first part. To stop the color, return the bar to the black location. a) What color is seen when the red light is on?Red b) What color is seen when the green light is on? Green

c) What color is seen when the blue light is on? Blue

• For the next part we will investigate the effects of mixing two colors. Before you begin each part be sure to make a hypothesis. a) What color do you think the man will see when red and green are mixed together?Brown b) Turn on the red and green, both to the very top of the color scale. What does the man actually see?Yellow

c) Experiment with the degree of color. While doing this, make sure that both colors are in equal locations on the scale. What colors are observed? Do they still fit into the same color family as the color observed in ‘b’? I put the red and blue together, but only halfway up the scale. The man sees a dark, faded yellow. They fit into the same color family.

• Keep the red light on (to the top red location), and turn off the green. We will be looking at red and blue next. a) What color do you think the man will see when red and blue are mixed together?Purple b) Turn on the red and blue, both to the very top of the color scale. What does the man actually see?Pinkish-purple.

c) Experiment with the degree of color. While doing this, make sure that both colors are in equal locations on the scale. What colors are observed? Do they still fit into the same color family as the color observed in ‘b’?I put the red and blue together, only halfway up the color scale. The man sees a darker, more faded version of the same pinkish-purple.

• Keep the blue light on (to the top blue location), and turn off the red. We will be looking at green and blue next. a) What color do you think the man will see when green and blue are mixed together?Aqua b) Turn on the green and blue, both to the very top of the color scale. What does the man actually see?Aqua c) Experiment with the degree of color. While doing this, make sure that both colors are in equal locations on the scale. What colors are observed? Do they still fit into the same color family as the color observed in ‘b’?I put green and blue on halfway up the color scale. The man sees a darker,

more faded version of the aqua.

• Now we will be looking at mixing all three colors.• What color do you think the man will see when red, green and blue are all

mixed together? White

• Turn on all three colors, all to the very top of the color scale. What does the man actually see? White

• Fill in the color diagram below. Provide the appropriate colors that you observed when each was mixed. You may use colored pencils if you wish.

RED BLUE PURPLE

GREENRED Yellow

BLUEGREEN AQUA

Part II – Use the Single Bulb Tab• Set the simulation to the following: bulb type – ‘white’, beam – ‘photons’, and filter

color – ‘off’. a) What is coming out of the bulb? b) What color light does the man see?

• Set the simulation to the following: bulb type – ‘white’, beam – ‘solid’, and filter color – ‘off’. a) What is coming out of the bulb? b) What color light does the man see? White

• Set the simulation to the following: bulb type – ‘white’, beam – ‘photons’, and filter color – ‘on’. a) Choose any filter color. Record the color ______Blue______________. b) What is coming out of the bulb before the filter (in the area just in front of the filter)? Photons of all different colors.

c) What is coming out after the filter?Only blue photos d) What color light does the man see?Blue e) Choose another filter color. Record the color __________Red___________. f) Repeat questions b-d (above)B. Photons of all different colors. C. Only red photons. D. Red. Please record your observations as you answer the questions. g) What is the filter doing?

The filter is making the photons mimic its color.

• Set the simulation to the following: bulb type – ‘white’, beam – ‘solid, and filter color – ‘on’. a) Choose any filter color. Record the color _________Green___________. Repeat questions b-d (from question 3 on

the last page). Please record your observations as you answer the questions.B. A white beam of light C. A green beam of light D. Green b) Choose another filter color. Record the color _______Orange_____________. Repeat questions b-d (from question 3 on the last page). B. A white beam if light C. An orange beam of light D. Orange. Please record your observations as you answer the questions. c) What are the differences between question 3 (photon setting) and question 4 (solid setting)?The photon setting shows individual photons of different colors that are seen through the eye as white light. The solid setting shows only the white light. d) What are the similarities between question 3 (photon setting) and question 4 (solid setting)? They are both the same light, the photon setting only shows the photons while the solid setting shows light as seen to the eye.

• Set the simulation to the following: bulb type – ‘monochromatic, beam – ‘solid, and filter color – ‘on’. a) Select a bulb color and a filter color that are different. Record the colors chosen below. What does the man see?

Bulb Color: __________Yellow___________ Filter Color: _________Blue____________

Color seen by the man: Black b) Select a bulb color and a filter color that are the same. Record the colors chosen below. What does the man see? Bulb Color: _________Red____________

Filter Color: ________Red_____________ Color seen by the man: Red c) What is

the filter doing? It does not change the color because they are the same. • In this activity light was represented in 2 ways – as a photon or as a solid. What

explanation can you provide for the nature of light? The photons come together to make light as the eye sees it, like many small snowflakes make a snowman.