Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by the human eye. It consists of different colors with varying wavelengths, ranging from red to violet.
Refraction occurs when light waves change direction as they pass through different mediums, such as water or glass. This bending of light is responsible for phenomena like rainbows and lenses.
Absorption happens when an object takes in certain wavelengths of light and reflects or transmits others. The color we perceive an object to be is determined by which wavelengths it absorbs and reflects.
Photons are particles of energy that make up electromagnetic waves, including visible light. They behave both as particles and waves and carry specific amounts of energy depending on their wavelength.