physics 28

pigment

a material that selectively absorbs colored light

Line spectrum

a pattern of distinct lines of color, corresponding to particular wavelengths, that are seen in a spectroscope when a hot gas is viewed

scattering

a process in which sound or light is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions

excited state

a state with greater energy that an atom's lowest state

spectroscope

an instrument used to separate the light from hot gas or other light source into its constituent frequencies

Spectrum

for sunlight and other white light, the spread of colors seen when the light is passed through a prism or diffraction grating. In general, the spread of radiation by frequency, so that each frequency appears at a different position.

White Light

light, such as sunlight, that is a combination of all the colors. Under white light, white objects appear white and colored objects appear in their individual colors.

additive primary colors

red, blue, and green light. These colors when added together produce white light

subtractive primary colors

the colors magenta, yellow, and cyan. These are the three colors most useful in color mixing by subtraction

complementary colors

two colors of light beams that when added together appear white