Context

Theoretical Introduction

Color is a phenomenon that consists of the visual perception generated in the eyes when reacting to the electromagnetic radiation coming from light. The scientific study of color involves concepts of physics, chemistry, and biology, and is fundamental to understanding how we perceive the world around us. Given the complexity underlying our perception of color, the way we describe and categorize colors can vary widely.

There are different types of primary colors, depending on the context. Additive primary colors (or light) are blue, green, and red: by combining all of them in equal intensity, we will have white light, while the absence of these colors will result in black. Subtractive primary colors (or pigments) are cyan, magenta, and yellow: the combination of these colors will generate black, and the absence of them will result in white.

Finally, considering the color theory for the arts, the primary colors are blue, red, and yellow, from which we can create all other colors. In all theories, the basic idea of primary colors is that they are fundamental colors and cannot be obtained by mixing other colors.

Context

Studying primary colors is not limited to a classroom. This understanding has practical applications in various areas such as arts, graphic design, lighting, advertising, and even in psychology. Knowing how colors influence our behavior, emotions, and moods, for example, can be a differential in many professions.

Simple things like choosing the color of a wall, the color of a room's light, or the color of a company's logo depend on a correct understanding of primary colors and how they combine. In addition, colors also play an important scientific role, helping to determine the composition of distant stars, or to analyze the chemical composition of unknown substances through spectroscopy techniques.

Research Sources

1. How does human vision work?
2. Color and psychology: how they influence our daily lives
3. What is spectroscopy

Practical Activity

Activity Title: The Physics of Colors.

Project Objectives:

1. Understand how additive and subtractive colors work.
2. Develop a practical experiment demonstrating that all light colors can be formed by the composition of the three primary light colors.
3. Observe how an object's color is related to the color of the light that illuminates it.

Project Description:

This is a group project that should be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students and should take 5 to 10 hours per participant to complete. Each group should develop a practical experiment involving the creation of colors through the mixture of primary colors, both light and pigment. Students should also highlight, through practical observations, how an object's color is related to the color of the light that illuminates it.

Required Materials:

1. Different colored light bulbs (red, blue, green).
2. Primary color paints (red, blue, yellow) and brushes.
3. White paper.
4. Glasses with colored lenses.
5. Camera or cell phone to document the results.

Step by Step:

1. Study of Light Colors: Using different colored light bulbs, students should illuminate a white object to observe how the color of this object changes with the change of light color. Each group should conduct the experiments and record the results through notes and photographs.
2. Creating Colors with Light: In a dark environment, project colored lights to create new colors. Experiment with different combinations of primary light colors. Record your observations and discoveries.
3. Paint Mixing: On a white paper, students should mix primary color paints in different proportions to create new colors. They should document their experiences through notes and photographs.
4. Colored Glasses: Use glasses with colored lenses to observe objects of different colors. Record your observations on how the use of lenses alters the perception of the objects' colors.

The conclusion of this project will be the delivery of a detailed report containing an introduction, development, conclusions, and bibliography. The report should include a summary of what was learned during the project, both theoretical and practical aspects. The development should detail the experiments conducted, describing each step of the process, the methodology used, and the results obtained.

The conclusions should discuss the meaning of the results, what they reveal about the nature of colors, and how color perception can be affected by light and pigments. The conclusions should also highlight the skills acquired by the group during the work, such as teamwork, planning and execution of experiments, and analysis of results.

The bibliography should list all sources of information consulted during the project. Remember to include all sources of information that were used to learn the theoretical concepts and plan the experiment.

Project Deliverables:

• Photographic documentation of the experiments conducted.
• PDF of the final report.
• Presentation of the report to the class.