Color in Light

Color reveals fascinating experience while we perceive with the help of ‘light’. The eye sees while the brain perceives.  Brain interprets the meaning of what we perceive.  The color of light is being extensively used in various purposes- decoration, safety, entertainment, signage, communication –information, etc. Modern day civilization has applied the science and technique of light efficiently. Following are some of the examples of application of light in human life.

Light wave

Plate1. Light wave	Plate2. Multi-color Light Effect

The wave theory of light experimented and found that human beings perceives the visible light or white light based on the electromagnetic radiation. “Visible light (commonly referred to simply as light) is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight.” Ref: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light#Wave_theory ; May 22, 2012).  The above experiment (Plate 1) shows the wave of light can create amazing visual effect that may be great interest to art and design professionals. Such effects of light waves are popularly applied in performing art to create special effects. Similarly the effect of multi-color spot-lights (Plate 2) on a stage may create a very special effect and environment.

Plate3

Human beings can see electromagnetic waves that we identify as Visible light (Plate3). We perceive these waves in the form of rainbow. Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength. When all the waves are seen together, they make white light. ‘Cones’ in our eyes receives these light waves through the process of reflective light from the surface because of which we perceive colors.