# Explain why different objects appear different colours when white light shines on them, and describe what happens when white light passes through a colour filter.

> WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales) — 6.2 Particle physics and the standard model (A-Level only) · Explain · 5 marks

> White light is made up of all the colours of the visible spectrum. When white light is shone onto objects or through materials, different colours can be seen.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. The colour of an object is determined by the frequency of light that is reflected from it
2. An object absorbs all other colours (frequencies) of light except the one it reflects
3. A white object reflects all colours / a black object absorbs all colours
4. A colour filter only allows light of a single colour (single frequency) to pass through it
5. The colour filter absorbs all other colours (frequencies) of the white light

## Key terms

- [colour](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/colour)
- [colour filter](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/colour-filter)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-different-objects-appear-different-2db2604c) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.