What color is an object if all lights are off?

Question

So, Im currently taking finals and I was studying science. My teacher says an object is every color except the one it shows because of light absorption and such. So my question.
If all the lights in a room are off, no light at all, what color are objects?
(im so sorry if this is dumb. Im really tired and Im not good at science 😂)

Answer 1

It's not dumb. In fact without ambient light there is no color as we can't see anything. It's pitch black. Remember, objects have color only because our brains interpret the energy levels of the reflected or direct light as color. That is, it takes a sentient being like you to see color. And if that being can't see because there is no light, then there is no color.

Answer 2

When we say an object is red (for example) we mean it appears red when it is illuminated with light containing red. Usually this means illuminating the object with white light, as white light contains red (as well as all the other colours).



That's because the object reflects red light but absorbs other colours. So only red light from it reaches our eyes.



The same object in a dark room will *appear* black because no light is coming from it.



But putting a red object in a dark room doesn't change the object. It still has the property that it reflects red light. I would stay it is is still red, but in the dark room, it appears black as there is no red light for it to reflect.

Answer 3

An objects colour does not change. Only your perception changes due to black of light.