Mon Prof Augmenté
Feather colors from grains and air pockets
Age 13 · Physics
Some feather colors come from pigments, which absorb most light and reflect one color. Other feather colors come from tiny structures that reflect only short wavelengths while longer wavelengths pass into a dark core.
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Age 13: open this week
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In the picture
- The badge sits on a red granule in the red window.
- The badge sits on a cluster of air pockets and tiny beads in the blue window.
- The badge sits on a short tight wave bouncing back from that cluster.
- The badge sits on the point where a yellow ray and a blue ray meet in the green window.
Examples
- A red shirt looks red because its dye absorbs other colors and reflects red.
- A blue butterfly wing can look blue because tiny ridges reflect blue light.
Key takeaways
- Pigments make color by absorbing some wavelengths and reflecting others.
- Tiny structures can make color by bouncing back only short wavelengths.
Quiz: Feather colors from grains and air pockets (Age 13)
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What are the two main ways a feather can get its colour?
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How does a pigment make a feather look a certain colour?
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How do microscopic structures create colours such as blue in feathers?
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