Wavelength of Visible Light Spectrum

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Wavelength of Visible Light Spectrum

The subject matter of this article is the visible light spectrum and its limits, beyond which, electromagnetic waves become invisible. Read on to know all about it. The visible light spectrum is a fractional part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is visible due to our eyes, which are light receptors. The wavelength of visible light spectrum is determined by the limits of visibility, of our eyes. Visible Light Spectrum Range To be scientifically precise, wavelength range of electromagnetic radiation, that falls between 380 nanometers to 750 nanometers, constitutes the visible light spectrum. The two wavelength limits of visible light in nanometers are, 380 nm and 750 nm, which denote the upper and lower end points, beyond which our eyes do not respond to electromagnetic radiation. That is, there are wavelength ranges beyond which, we cannot see. Relative End Points The end points of the spectrum mentioned above, are with respect to the human eye. However, there are many animals, which can see beyond the human limits of wavelength. Their visibility range extends into what we call the infra red range or ultraviolet range. In that sense, limits of wavelengths, can be relative. What we see as colors are our optical system and brain's response to a particular set of electromagnetic waves. So, wavelengths are an absolute concept but colors can be relative to the visual system. Wavelength of Visible Light Colors What would be life without colors? Imagine living in a black and white world! It would surely be dreary. As I said before, colors are our visual system's response to incident electromagnetic radiation. The cells that are responsible for color perception, are the cone cells in the retina. Here, I present the visible light spectrum, with respect to all the perceived colors. The human eye has maximum sensitivity and gives an optimum response to light, at the wavelength of 555 nm, which falls in the green region of the visible spectrum. No wonder our eyes like the green color! Every basic color has a range of wavelengths, which give it gradation. Green extends from pale green to dark green, blue extends from light to dark blue and so on. There are certain colors like pink or purple which are not basic colors. These composite colors are formed due to a mixture of certain basic colors, that is, through mixing of visible light wavelengths. Here is a table, which presents the spectrum, divided in color regions, according to our perception. The wavelength of visible light in meters is mentioned in the table. The unit used is angstrom. One angstrom is 10 Color Violet Indigo Blue Green Yellow Orange Red
-10 -10

m.

Wavelength Range in Angstrom (10 3800 - 4500 4200 - 4500 4500 - 4950 4950 - 5700 5700 - 5900 5900 - 6200 6200 - 7500

m)

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Wavelength of Visible Light Spectrum

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So, these are the wavelengths of visible light colors, observed and calculated with the help of a spectrometer. As can be seen from the table above, violet color has the shortest wavelength and red has the longest. The colors of different objects perceived by our eyes, depend on the light absorption and emission properties of those objects. There are many more colors that we see in the world around us, besides the ones mentioned above. You may be wondering why they are not mentioned here. The reason is, that those composite colors are made by a mixture of wavelengths of these basic colors. A light wave packet consisting of a mixture of all these basic color wavelengths, appears white. A rainbow is seen due to refraction of light through raindrops. The spectrum described here is in the exact order, as seen in a rainbow, the colors of which are abbreviated as VIBGYOR (using the first letters of all the basic colors, in case you haven't noticed!). By Omkar Phatak

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