Color Study Sheet

Study Sheets
Elementary Art

Light and Color

Vocabulary:

hue: color

primary: red, blue, and yellow-Any two of these mixed together produce one of the secondary colors.

secondary: green, orange, and violet (purple)-Each of these is made by mixing certain two of the primary colors.

complimentary: any two colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel-They work together in that, when mixed, each lessens the intensity of the other (saps some of the color away). A little of a color's compliment makes it duller, and when mixed in more equal amounts, they produce a neutral color.

neutral: gray, brown-made when complimentary colors cancel each other out-lacks any intensity of hue

intensity: refers to the brightness or dullness of a color/how much of the color is there

color wheel: a chart that shows how colors work together-an aid to color mixing

visible spectrum: all colors seen with the human eye-the visible wavelengths which compose white light

value: refers to the lightness or darkness of a color

tint: a lighter value of a color

shade: a darker value of a color

reflection: in the case of light, it is light bouncing off of an object to our eye, allowing us to see form and color

refraction: light spreading out or bending to travel a different direction

************************************************************************************

White is all colors, and black is the absence of color, because of the way light works to produce color. The colors we see are the result of some parts of white light being reflected, other parts being absorbed by the surface of an object. For example, we see the color red on an object when the red part of the light (longer wavelengths) is reflected from the surface to our eyes, while the other parts of the light are absorbed. Green objects look green because all but the green parts (shorter wavelengths of light) are absorbed. White objects reflect all wavelengths of light so that we see all the colors of light together, and the thing looks white. Black objects absorb (soak up) all light, so we see no light reflecting from it, hence no color. If one wishes to remain cool on a sunny day, one should wear white, because it not only reflects light from the sun, but the heat that accompanies it as well. Conversely, wearing black will make one hotter, because it absorbs light and heat.

Light travels at the constant speed of 186,000 miles per second. However, when it hits a medium that is thicker than that which it had been traveling through, it slows down for a split-second before returning to its constant speed, which causes refraction. For example, when after moving through the air it hits the water droplets hanging in the air in the form of a mist after a heavy rain, light spreads out so that one may see all the separate colors of light that compose white light individually, forming a rainbow (the visible spectrum). Another example of refraction would be seen when one puts a pencil into a clear glass of water. Though straight, after it breaks the surface of the water it appears bent because the light reflecting off of it has bent due to refraction. If one needs to survive by spear fishing, it is wise to stab a little past the fish because he appears to be closer than he really is thanks to refraction! As a note of interest, when one sees the sun coming up over the horizon in the morning, it has already been up for eight minutes. In spite of the tremendously fast speed of light, because of the distance of the sun from the Earth, it takes the light from it that long to get here.