In summary: color preception is dependant on the wave length of light radiation impenging on certain sensitive receptor cells in the retina, which is an extention of the organic brain.
The basics of how color is seen deals with the objects ability to reflect and absorb light. An object that appears green is absorbing every color of the visible spectrum except for that specific wavelength of green.
For example an apple. Apples are red by the way!
The light from the sun or from anywhere where light comes from, the light hits the apple! Since apples are red, all of the other color EXCEPT for red get absorbed and the color red bounces off (reflects off).
cranberryhead
It's the other way round - white light comes from combining all sorts of colors. White light is just a mixture of all colors. We see colors from white light because we can separate diffirent wavelenghts (via a prism, for example). That's also why we see a rainbow - white light refracts on drops of water, under a specific angle - working as a prism - thus we see a spectrum of colors.
What we call "white light" is light with all possible colors in it.
The color you see when you look at the object is the color of the light that
remains, AFTER the object has absorbed the colors it absorbs.
If it absorbs nothing, then it appears white. If it absorbs everything except red,
then it appears red. If it absorbs everything, then it appears black, etc.
White light contains the many colors you see. The illuminated object will absorb and reflect the light as its' materials see fit. A black object will absorb all colors. A white object reflects all colors. Everything else lies in between there somewhere.
All substances and objects we see in color is due to the fact that they absorb all the colored radiation from the light source and reflects a particular radiation. For example, a Red colored objects absorbs all the radiation from white light and reflects only red color radiation that's why it seems red to us.
We can see color through the dispersion of white light. Bring the object near the prism and then we can see the white color dispersed in 7 different colors i.e. VIBGYOR
Because of your eye retina, and the way they are formed allows you to only see visible light....
You said it's a "white object", and we'll take your word for it. It appears white.
White.
it will be black
If the light is or contains the colour the object it is striking, then the object will appear to be the colour it originally is. If the light is not or does not contain the colour the object it is striking, then object will appear black. This is because an object will only reflect the light that is the same colour as it, all other light is absorbed. For example: Red, yellow, magenta, and white light will make a red object appear red as they all contain red light. Blue, green and cyan light will make a red object appear black.
Why do you call it a "white object" ? Could it be because it looks white under white light ... light composed of every color ? Well then, the object must reflect every color. So it appears to be the color of whatever light you illuminate it with. Yellow under yellow light, etc.
The white object will look red because the white surface reflects all colors and since only a red light is used it will only reflect red.
White.
blue
blue
Blue what ? ! ? Do you mean an object that appears blue in white light ? Such an object appears black in green light.
it will be black
Black will be the color of a yellow object in a dark room while white light falls on it.
If the light is or contains the colour the object it is striking, then the object will appear to be the colour it originally is. If the light is not or does not contain the colour the object it is striking, then object will appear black. This is because an object will only reflect the light that is the same colour as it, all other light is absorbed. For example: Red, yellow, magenta, and white light will make a red object appear red as they all contain red light. Blue, green and cyan light will make a red object appear black.
When the light reflects on an object into your eye you see the objects colour. When all of the light reflects into your eye you see the colour as white. So if some of the light is absorbed into the object you see it as it being a certain colour. There are cone cells in the eye that detect color (the other type of cells is rod cells, which are better at distinguishing light/darkness and patterns). Different colors of light excite different cone cells and cone cell clusters and these cells transmit signals to your brain, which interprets these signals as color vision.
Why do you call it a "white object" ? Could it be because it looks white under white light ... light composed of every color ? Well then, the object must reflect every color. So it appears to be the color of whatever light you illuminate it with. Yellow under yellow light, etc.
The white object will look red because the white surface reflects all colors and since only a red light is used it will only reflect red.
The object appears to have the color of the light that it is worst at absorbing. That'sthe color of which the most light remains to be scattered and reflected to your eye.
If the light source is truly cyan, the red object should appear black. The object is red because it reflects the red portion of the white light spectrum. With no red wavelengths available to be reflected, the object will have a lack of color (i.e., black).