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written by Michael Davidson, Kenneth R. Spring, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Robert Sutter
published by the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is a Java simulation that illustrates what happens when the primary additive colors of light (red, green, and blue) are mixed in any combination.  It consists of a red, green, and blue circle that can be overlaid and combined by the user in either pairs or all together.  It explains why the combination of red, green, and blue produces white light and also demonstrates how the three complementary colors of light (cyan, yellow, and magenta) are produced by mixing the primary colors in pairs.

This item is part of a larger collection of materials on optics and microscopy developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University.  SEE RELATED MATERIALS on this page for a comprehensive tutorial on the primary colors of light and human color vision.

Please note that this resource requires Java.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Optics
- Color
= Synthesis and Analysis of Color
- High School
- Middle School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
= Tutorial
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- AP Physics
- Activity
- New teachers
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Intended Users:
Learner
Educator
Formats:
application/java
text/html
Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 2002 National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Keywords:
RGB colors, Simulations, additive colors, color, color perception, light, optics, tutorial
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created July 9, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:
July 9, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
February 9, 2008

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.


Topic: Nature and Behavior of Light
Unit Title: Visible Light and Color

The colors red, green, and blue are classically considered the primary colors of light because they are fundamental to human vision. All other colors of the visible light spectrum can be produced by adding different combinations of these three colors. This Java simulation lets students move and overlay three circles colored red, green, and blue.  Combine any two and produce the complementary colors of light (cyan, magenta, and yellow).  Combine all three and the result is white light.  We suggest introducing this simulation alongside the one directly below on subtractive (complementary) colors.

Link to Unit:
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Record Link
AIP Format
M. Davidson, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2002), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Davidson, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter, Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2002), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html>.
APA Format
Davidson, M., Spring, K., Parry-Hill, M., & Sutter, R. (2008, February 9). Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html
Chicago Format
Davidson, M, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter. Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., February 9, 2008. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html (accessed 10 October 2024).
MLA Format
Davidson, Michael, Kenneth R. Spring, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Robert Sutter. Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., 2002. 9 Feb. 2008. 10 Oct. 2024 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Michael Davidson and Kenneth R. Spring and Matthew J. Parry-Hill and Robert Sutter", Title = {Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors}, Publisher = {Olympus America, Inc.}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {10 October 2024}, Month = {February 9, 2008}, Year = {2002} }
Refer Export Format

%A Michael Davidson %A Kenneth R. Spring %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %A Robert Sutter %T Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors %D February 9, 2008 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Spring, Kenneth R. %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %A Sutter, Robert %D February 9, 2008 %T Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2024 %N 10 October 2024 %8 February 9, 2008 %9 application/java %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/primarycolors/additiveprimaries/index.html


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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Tutorial - Primary Additive Colors:

Is Part Of Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors

This is a comprehensive tutorial on primary colors, human perception of color, and physiology of the eye that enables color vision.

relation by Caroline Hall

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