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White light is a fascinating phenomenon. It might look colorless to our eyes, but it actually contains all the colors of the visible spectrum combined. Imagine a rainbow; it's nature's way of showing us the spectrum of colors that white light is made up of.
When white light passes through different materials, its composition can change. This happening is due to the fact that some colors within the light might be absorbed by the material while others continue through. This is why we sometimes see an object in a certain color, even if it's not lit by that same color of light.

Think of the color spectrum like a colorful band made up of the seven visible colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Each of these colors corresponds to light of different wavelengths. For instance, red light has the longest wavelength, while violet has the shortest.
These colors blend seamlessly into each other, creating numerous shades and hues. The visible spectrum is just a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, but it’s the part that lights up our world with color. When we talk about filtering light, we often mean allowing only certain wavelengths — or colors — to pass through.

Light absorption is key to understanding why objects look the way they do. Materials can absorb specific wavelengths of light and reflect others, and this is how we perceive different colors.
For instance, when white light strikes a red apple, the apple absorbs nearly all light spectra but reflects red. That's why we see it as red. Similarly, a piece of blue plastic acts as a filter, blocking most of the light spectrum and allowing only blue light to pass through. This is why, through a blue plastic filter, everything looks blue.

• Materials absorb light due to their molecular structure.
• The absorbed light's energy can cause materials to heat up, which is why dark surfaces can be hotter in the sun.
• The colors we see are influenced by the light source and the medium through which the light travels.

Understanding how light absorption works helps us explain not only everyday wonders like why the sky is blue but also practical applications like designing better sunglasses or energy-efficient lighting.