Understanding+The+Physics+Of+Color

Carter M   Cary Academy ** ABSTRACT  ** The purpose of the experiment was to see whether or not different shades of red, blue or yellow mixed together always make vibrant colors. The traditional color wheel indicates they should always be vibrant, but experience indicates other wise. It was hypothesized that there would be a more vibrant shade of purple or green when compatible colors (both warm and both cool) are mixed. The cooler shades contain more blue and are: ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, lemon yellow. The warmer shades contain more yellow and are: thalo blue, cadmium red, and cadmium yellow. The method for this experiment was mixing blues with reds or yellows. After the color mixes were placed in their appropriate spot in the chart, observers would give the color a ranking, 1 being the dullest and 10 being the most vibrant. In the end of the experiment it was seen that the color wheel is imprecise for predicitng vibrant color mixes. Also, the experiment results partially agreed with my hypothesis. The two mixes that didn’t go with the hypothesis were the thalo blue and lemon yellow (a warm color and a cool color) and the thalo blue and cadmium red (warm and warm).
 * UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICS OF COLOR **