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Module 1.6b

Figure 1.6-6
The wavelengths we see CONNECT 1.6-4
The wide spectrum of
electromagnetic energy ranges
White from gamma rays as short as Tell your students that our ability
light
Prism the diameter of an atom to radio to see color depends on the wave
waves as long as 62 miles (100
kilometers). The wavelengths properties of light. Objects reflect the
visible to the human eye (shown
enlarged) extend from the shorter wavelength of their colors back to the
blue-violet light waves to the
longer waves of red light. eye and absorb all other wavelengths
of light. Team with your school’s
physics teacher to give a lesson on
the physics of light.
TEACH 1.6-4
400 500 600 700
Part of spectrum visible Active Learning
to humans
(15 minutes) Have students draw,
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Not for redistribution.
with the appropriate colored crayon,
Gamma X-rays Ultra- Infrared Radar Broadcast
rays violet rays bands
rays what the different wavelengths of light
10 –5 10 –3 10 –1 10 1 10 3 10 5 10 7 10 9 10 11 10 13 would look like. For instance, a bright
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
Wavelength in nanometers (billionths of a meter)
red color would have a long wave-
length with a great (tall) amplitude,
Short wavelength = high frequency Great amplitude Figure 1.6-7 whereas a dull blue color would have
(bluish colors) (bright colors)
The physical properties of a short wavelength with a small (short)
waves
(a) Waves vary in wavelength (the amplitude. Have them consult a phys-
distance between successive ics textbook or search online for help
peaks). Frequency, the number of
complete wavelengths that can with the colors between red and blue.
Long wavelength = low frequency Small amplitude pass a point in a given amount of
(reddish colors) (dull colors) time, depends on the wavelength. Be sensitive to the fact that students
The shorter the wavelength, the
higher the frequency. Wavelength with color-deficient vision might have
determines the perceived color difficulties with this task and prefer to
of light. (b) Waves also vary in
amplitude (the height from peak to work in pairs.
(a) (b) trough). Wave amplitude influences
the perceived brightness of colors.
CONNECT 1.6-4
The iris responds to your cognitive and emotional states. If you have vision, imagine lens the transparent structure
a sunny sky and your iris will constrict; imagine a dark room and it will dilate (Laeng & behind the pupil that changes Point out to students that vision and
Sulutvedt, 2014). The iris also constricts when you feel disgust or you are about to answer shape to help focus images on
the retina.
No to a question (de Gee et al., 2014; Goldinger & Papesh, 2012). And when you’re feeling audition use similar terms to discuss
amorous or trusting, your telltale dilated pupils subtly signal your feelings (Attard-Johnson retina the light-sensitive back the different stimuli that are processed
inner surface of the eye, containing
et al., 2016, 2017; Kret & De Dreu, 2017; Prochanzkova et al., 2018). the receptor rods and cones plus by our visual and auditory systems.
After passing through your pupil, light hits the transparent lens in your eye. The lens then layers of neurons that begin the
focuses the light rays into an image on your retina, the multilayered tissue lining the back inner processing of visual information. Both visual and auditory stimuli work
surface of the eyeball. To focus the rays, the lens changes its curvature and thickness in a process in waves, so the characteristics of
waves are similar for both light and
Sensation: Vision Module 1.6b 125 sound. (For more on sound waves,
see Module 1.6c.)
• Wavelength determines the quality
CONNECT 1.6-4 of the waves (for vision, color; for
03_myersAPpsychology4e_28116_ch01_002_163.indd 125 • Why a flash is important and when it
15/12/23 9:25 AM
should be used sound, pitch).
Invite your school’s art or photography
teacher to explain to your students how a Remind students that although the camera • Amplitude determines the intensity
camera is similar to the eye. Cameras use the analogy works well for understanding vision, of the waves (for vision, brightness;
eye as a model for how much light to let in to it breaks down when considering perception. for sound, loudness).
create a photograph. Have the teacher cover Unlike a camera, what we see is not always
the following topics: what we perceive.
• Why certain film is important to use for
different situations and images

Sensation: Vision Module 1.6b 125

03_HammerTE4e_47547_ch01_2a_163_4pp.indd 125 07/02/24 5:27 PM