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Absorbing Perceptions

A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box in ambient light
A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box with the blue light on
A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box with the green and blue lights on
A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box with the green light on
A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box with the red and green lights on
A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box with the red light on
A box with red, green, and blue light bulbs, switches to turn each on or off individually, and sheets with colored stars and circles
A view of the box with the red and blue lights on

The perceived color of pigments (ink, paint, etc) or surfaces is due to the color of light that they reflect. They can only reflect light that is provided, so they will look different depending on the color of the light that illuminates them. Look at the color of the stars and circles in ambient (white) light, then look at the same colors with different combinations of colored light bulbs on or off.

Materials

  • a long box
  • black paint or paper
  • An image of identical simple shapes in different colors, on a white background
  • three light bulbs: red, green, and blue (LED bulbs work best)
  • three light bulb sockets
  • three switches (preferably a single unit with three switches on it)
  • a plastic gang box for mounting each switch
  • extra cardboard or other material
  • electrical wires
  • electrical cord with plug

Construction Instructions

Wire the bulb sockets to the switches and the electrical cord. Mount the switches in the gang boxes. Construct an enclosure at one end of the box to mount the bulbs and the gang boxes. Space the light bulbs evenly vertically, offsetting the middle one depth-wise so the bulbs have a little bit of space for heat dissipation. Mount the gang boxes recessed a bit, so that the switches don't interfere with the box lid.

Paint the inside of the box black, or line with black paper. Laminate the paper with the shapes, if desired.