Lesson 6 of 7

Coloured objects and filters

Goal: Explain why objects look coloured.

Puzzles for this lesson

Word search0 of 8 foundCrossword0 of 40 letters
Sheets of red, green and blue plastic standing in front of a window. Each casts a patch of its own colour on the table

A coloured filter lets its own colour of light through. A coloured object reflects its own colour. Both absorb the rest.

  • A filter takes colours away. A red filter transmits red light and absorbs the other colours.
  • A red apple reflects red light and absorbs the other colours. In green light it has no red light to reflect, so it looks black.
  • White things reflect every colour. Black things absorb every colour.
  • Red, green and blue are the primary colours of light. Mixed together they make white light.
redgreenbluewhite yellowmagentacyan

Adding coloured lights: red and green make yellow, red and blue make magenta, and green and blue make cyan.

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Key words in this lesson

Filter A coloured sheet that lets its own colour of light through

For teachers: AQA 3.4.2 · Cambridge 8Ps.04