Question

Human color vision is “produced” by the nervous system based on how three different cone receptors interact with pho-tons of light in the eye. These three different types of cones interact with photons of different frequency light, as indicated in the following chart:

Cone Type Range of Light/Frequency Detected

S 6.00-7.49x10^14s^-1   

M 4.76-6.62x10^14s^-1

L 4.28-6.00x10^14s^-1

What wavelength ranges (and corresponding colors) do the three types of cones detect?

Answer 1

Cone Type Range of Light/Frequency Detected

S 6.00-7.49x10^14s^-1   

M 4.76-6.62x10^14s^-1

L 4.28-6.00x10^14s^-1

S Frequency = 6.00-7.49x10^14s^-1

Wavelength = speed of light / frequency

Lowest       = 3.00 * 10^8 m/s / 6.00 * 10^14 s^-1

                  = 5.00 * 10 ^-7 m

Highest = 3.00 * 10^8 m/s / 7.49 * 10^14 s^-1

                  = 4.00 * 10 ^-7 m

This corresponds to violet to green colors

M Frequency = 4.76-6.62x10^14s^-1

Wavelength = speed of light / frequency

Lowest       = 3.00 * 10^8 m/s / 4.76 * 10^14 s^-1

                  = 6.30 * 10 ^-7 m

Highest = 3.00 * 10^8 m/s / 6.62 * 10^14 s^-1

                  = 4.53 * 10 ^-7 m

This corresponds to blue to orange colors

L Frequency = 4.28-6.00x10^14s^-1

Wavelength = speed of light / frequency

Lowest       = 3.00 * 10^8 m/s / 4.28 * 10^14 s^-1

                  = 7.01 * 10 ^-7 m

Highest = 3.00 * 10^8 m/s / 6.00 * 10^14 s^-1

                  = 5.00 * 10 ^-7 m

This corresponds to green to red colors