Objects can absorb some colours and reflect or transmit others

The colour of an opaque object This is determined by the pigments that are found in the object For example, a red apple is red because it absorbs all wavelengths of light except red, red light is reflected to your eye and that is the “colour” you see White light hits the apple But only red is reflected

A white hat would reflect all seven colours: A pair of purple trousers would reflect purple light (and red and blue, as purple is made up of red and blue): White light Purple light A white hat would reflect all seven colours: White light White light

Using coloured light If we look at a coloured object in coloured light we see something different. For example, consider these clothes: White light Shirt looks red Shorts look blue

In different colours of light these clothes would look different: Shirt still looks red but the shorts are black Red light Shorts are still blue but the shirt is black Blue light

The colour of translucent or transparent objects For translucent or transparent materials to have a particular colour they must absorb all other colours of light but transmit and reflect the colour of the material Eg. Green film used to wrap a gift looks green no matter if the light is shining through it or on it.