Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. It represents a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes a broad range of electromagnetic waves varying in frequency and wavelength. The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Visible light is unique because it is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect and perceive. It ranges in wavelength from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers, with different colors corresponding to different wavelengths within this range. The typical colors of visible light, in order of increasing wavelength, are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
When visible light interacts with matter, it can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed. The colors we perceive are determined by the wavelengths of light that are reflected or emitted by an object. For example, an object that appears red absorbs all colors of light except red, which is reflected.
Understanding the properties of visible light is crucial in various scientific disciplines, including optics, astronomy, and biology. Additionally, technologies such as cameras, telescopes, and other optical instruments rely on the manipulation and detection of visible light for imaging and analysis.