Visible Light and the Eye's Response

The Eye And Color Video Tutorial describes the wavelength sensitivity of the three color receptors on the eye's retina and discusses how the incident-absorbed-reflected model can be used to explain how the eye-brain system perceives color in objects. Numerous examples, illustrations, and animations assist in the explanations.

The video lesson answers the following questions:

What are the mechanisms that allow the human eye to see color?

Video

You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:

Additional and Related Learning Tools

Concept Builder, Light and Color: Color Addition and Subtraction
Our Concept Builders are one of the best things that you can do to solidfy your learning. This one pertains to color addition and subtraction and is a great tool for exercising your understanding of the incident-absorbed-reflected model.

Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Color: Visible Light and the Eye's Response
The Tutorial section of our website explains and illustrates Physics concepts in an easy-to-understand language and a logical manner. This page provides close, written support for the first half of the video lesson.

Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Color: Light Absorption, Reflection, and Transmission
The Tutorial section of our website explains and illustrates Physics concepts in an easy-to-understand language and a logical manner. This page provides close, written support for the second half of the video lesson.

Teacher Resources

Curriculum Corner, Light and Color: Reflection, Transmission, and Color
Our Curriculum Corner consists of a collection of Think Sheets on narrowed topics. They serve as perfect follow-ups to the videos in our Video Tutorial Series. This one provides students with abundant practice using the incident-absorbed-reflected model of color vision.

Concept Builder, Light and Color: Color Addition and Subtraction
Our Concept Builders are great for putting learning into practice. This one pertains to color addition and subtraction and is a great tool for exercising an understanding of the incident-absorbed-reflected model. It may be a bit early in the learning cycle for the exercise but at some point students will need to practice these ideas.

Lesson Notes

Download (opens in a new tab) or view below

Slides

Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.