What Color Is A Mirror? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Mirrors are technically a tiny bit green, while our eyes perceive colors based on interference and scattering of light.

Key Insights

• 🥈 Mirrors are not actually silver; they reflect the color of their surroundings.
• 🧡 Sticky notes appear orange because they absorb all colors except orange.
• 🙂 Real-world mirrors have a slight green tint due to the reflection properties and absorption of light.
• 😃 The color of our eyes is determined by the interference and scattering of light, not by the absorption of specific wavelengths.
• 🩵 The sky appears blue due to the scattering of shorter wavelengths of light by molecules in the air.
• 👱 Direct sunlight passing through a lot of air results in the scattering of most colors, leaving only longer wavelengths such as red.
• 😃 The color of our eyes can vary based on the presence of melanin in the iris.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why are mirrors often depicted as silver?

Mirrors are often depicted as silver because they are made from silvery materials like aluminum, but in reality, mirrors reflect the color of whatever they point at.

Q: Why do sticky notes appear orange?

Sticky notes appear orange because they absorb every other wavelength of visible light and only reflect back the orange light, which then enters our eyes.

Q: Do real-world mirrors have a color?

Yes, real-world mirrors have a slight green tint. They reflect light within the 510 nanometer range, which we perceive as green light.

Q: Why are our eyes blue if they don't absorb blue light?

Our eyes appear blue because the iris contains a layer where light can be scattered, similar to how the sky scatters blue light. This scattering process makes our eyes appear blue.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mirrors, although often depicted as silver, are actually the color of whatever they reflect.

• Sticky notes appear orange because they absorb every wavelength of light except for orange, which they reflect back.

• Real-world mirrors have a slight green tint due to their reflection properties and the absorption of light.