Part I: Colors and the brain

How does the brain perceive colors and how can it “trick” us? To answer that ... What light sensitive cells on the retina allow us to perceive colors? Which type ...
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Perception of colors

Works of art

DNL 1S

AIM: To understand how we perceive colors.

Part I: Colors and the brain Useful vocabulary A trick – Une astuce, un piège A gap – Un écart To stare – Fixer du regard Leftovers – Les restes To focus on – Se focaliser sur Paint strokes – Coups de pinceau Dulled – Terni, moins intense Scientific vocabulary Wavelength – Longueur d’onde Color blind – Daltonien How does the brain perceive colors and how can it “trick” us? To answer that question, we will watch the videos “PhysicsGirl: Does this look white to you?” and “MinutePhysics: There is no pink light” and discuss. Here are a couple documents and some questions on the videos you might want to look at, to help you discuss the subject. 1. What are the two colors of paint in the plastic cup? What happens when you mix them? Why? 2. What light sensitive cells on the retina allow us to perceive colors? Which type are there? 3. Explain the yellow star trick (where you see a blue star after the yellow star disappears). 4. Describe and explain the experience with the spinning disk. 5. Why should pink be called “minus green”? Our eyes respond to three different range of wavelength, corresponding to the primary additive colors, and that by combining these colors, we can perceive all the colors of the rainbow. In theory, all the colors from the primary color wheel are in the white light spectrum above, but are they really? Look closely…

Part II: Color and artwork Homework: By groups of two or three, prepare a 5 to 7 minute presentation explaining how one of the art technique below works (why do we see what we see?). You may use some internet research. Subject A Jasper Jones - “American flag” Look intently at the white dot at the center of the painting for a few seconds, then look down to the grey rectangle next to it. What do you see?

Subject B George Seurat - “Parade” Left: A character from the painting. Right: A close-up of the actual paint strokes

Subject C Projection mapping on buildings Projection of 3D images on the surface of buildings (look principally at the color projection rather than the shape)

Perception of colors

Works of art

DNL 1S

Part III: Fireworks Useful vocabulary Sparks – Etincelles To burst – Eclater A mixture – Un mélange To get rid of – Se débarrasser de A shell – Une coquille / Un obus Goggles – Lunettes de protection A fuse – Une mèche To ignite - Allumer Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic [pyro: ancient Greek for fire] devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They may be designed to burn with colored flames and sparks including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and silver. How do we get such a diversity of colors? Write a short paragraph (about half a page) explaining the different phases of fireworks: •

Sending the shell in the air and igniting it



Producing the different colors

To help you, we will watch the video “The chemistry of fireworks”. Here are also a couple documents and some questions on the video you might want to look at, to help you discuss the subject. Spectra for different chemical compounds Compound

Cation

Emission spectrum

Observed color

Copper

Cu2+

Green / Blue-green

Barium

Ba2+

Green

Calcium

Ca2+

Orange

Potassium

K+

Purple

Lithium

Li+

Pink

Sodium

Na+

Yellow Visible light spectrum (for comparison)

1. Complete the structure scheme of the firework’s aerial shell.

2. Complete the sentence below: “We produce colors by using the fact that different temperatures, get rid of this of light”

, heated to high by emitting very specific