visible spectrum
Eye-detectable wavelengths
The visible spectrum is the portion of electromagnetic radiation that human eyes can detect—the narrow band between ultraviolet and infrared that we perceive as light and color.
When white light passes through a prism, it separates into the visible spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
The rainbow displays the full visible spectrum.
Color's specific character
- chromaColor purity measure
- saturationState of complete permeation
- tintFaint color addition
- shadeDarkness from blocked light
pigment · red · orange · yellow · green · blue · indigo · violet
Light-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
- dispersionScattering across space
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
absorption · transmission · reflection · photometry · lens · filter · polarization · optical
Involving electric and magnetic fields
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- nanometersBillionths of meters
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- photonsDiscrete packets of radiance
energy · light waves · quantum · Planck · radiation · band · blackbody · thermal radiation
Curved line segment
- skyVisible overhead expanse
- rainWater dropping from clouds
- sunshineDirect rays from above
- dispersionScattering across space
ROYGBIV · double rainbow · supernumerary · meteorology · atmospheric · refraction · droplets · sunlight
Ability to see
- eyesightVisual perception capacity
- photoreceptorsCells sensing light
- conesTapering geometric solids
- rodsThin cylindrical shafts
retina · color blindness · brightness · luminosity · afterimage · perception · sensitivity · eye
hue
Color's specific character
- chromaColor purity measure
- saturationState of complete permeation
- tintFaint color addition
shade · pigment · red · orange · yellow · green · blue · indigo · violet · ROYGBIV
prism
Light-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
- dispersionScattering across space
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
interference · absorption · transmission · reflection · photometry · lens · filter · polarization · optical · Fraunhofer lines
electromagnetic
Involving electric and magnetic fields
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- nanometersBillionths of meters
- frequencyRate of recurrence
photons · energy · light waves · quantum · Planck · radiation · band · blackbody · thermal radiation
arc
Curved line segment
dispersion · ROYGBIV · double rainbow · supernumerary · meteorology · atmospheric · refraction · droplets · sunlight · natural phenomenon
vision
Ability to see
- eyesightVisual perception capacity
- photoreceptorsCells sensing light
- conesTapering geometric solids
rods · retina · color blindness · brightness · luminosity · afterimage · perception · sensitivity · eye · fovea
- lightsunlight, daylight, shine, rays, moonlight
- light spectrumsunlight, white light, rainbow, wavelength, prism
- spectrum colorsred, orange, yellow, green, blue
- opticslens, lenses, mirror, mirrors, prism
- Light Biologyphotoreceptors, photoreception, rod cells, retina, light sensitivity
- Spectra
visible spectruminfrared
Heat-bearing electromagnetic waves
ultraviolet · radio waves · infrared radiation · ultraviolet radiation · microwaves
visible spectruminfrared
Heat-bearing electromagnetic waves
ultraviolet · infrared spectrum · radio spectrum · near-infrared · far-infrared
visible, invisible, spectrum, visibly, visibility, spectral, invisibility, spectrometer, spectroscopy