Transfer of Light: Colours and Absorption

Without light, there is no colour. When people see colours, they are really seeing different types of light bouncing off objects.

When light passes through a prism the light bends. As a result, the different colours that make up white light become separated.

Light exists in two very different forms at the same time. One form is tiny particles called photons. The other form is waves. The easiest way to think about light is as waves. Light waves travel through space at a speed of about 299,792 kilometres (186,282 miles) per second).

If a beam of light of one colour is shone through a prism, the direction of the beam is changed by the prism. This is because the two faces of the prism through which the light passes are not parallel.

Key points
White light is made of a spectrum of different colours.
Light can be split up into these separate colours using a prism.
There are three primary colours of light, which can be combined to make secondary colours.