When Physics and Biology Don’t Agree: The Unrevealed Secret of the Color of Leaves
Why the color of leaves are green. It also talks about the process of photosynthesis.
Encountered a lot of questions why it’s green? When we started learning about colors, green always represents by leaves. Yes, why does the dominant color of leaves is green?
Don’t get confused we are talking about the natural color of leaves and not it’s life cycle. Leaves natural color doesn’t change by the weather rather it varies upon their structure or anatomy. How?
Look, look intensely at these leaves.
Are they not deep red? Actually, they are. This photograph was taken mid summer when leaves were in their full color show up. Sooner when autumn comes their color will change because of the weather but remember this plant also grown in tropical countries wherein their leaves never change in color all year round unless they reach the end of their life cycle.
Let us take a look of these next image.
Obviously these are yellow colored leaves. I know you are getting really curious. Why does leaves varies in color. Some people says the color on plant’s leaves produced by themselves. Biologist says that the color are from light rays, but why yellow and not green or any other color? Physics wiz can’t even explain why? Though they are trying to used the constant speed of light waves.
These are naturally green colored leaves. Almost one third of the land is covered by green vegetation.
Can you imagine if the vegetation is colored orange. The atmosphere would have felt fiery and burning. Is green color would be the most appropriate one? Yes. The designer of nature had chosen green because it is the most restful color for human eye. Green always feel fresh which suggest that it has a healing power. To add on red, yellow and any other color is to put on contrast or otherwise it would be monotonous.
Now, to understand the idea or fact suggested earlier. See the next photograph:
This is a plant just exposed to direct sunlight, its almost colorless.
And after few days exposing them to direct sunlight, big difference on their leaves color isn’t it? But the question is, why do their leaves color became green?
Simply, in the process of photosynthesis the leaves capture and absorb the light rays to interact with water and carbon dioxide to produce food. So, whatever unused raw material in the process are left on the surface. GREEN is an unused light ray in the process or in other word it is the color that is dominantly rejects by photosynthesizing that is the reason why they are left on the surface of the leaves for us to be refresh and to have something to look at in our tiring day.
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14 Responses to “When Physics and Biology Don’t Agree: The Unrevealed Secret of the Color of Leaves”
On September 30, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Very informative.
On September 30, 2008 at 12:42 pm
That’s the answer I wanted. thanks
On September 30, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Brilliant explanation. Been waiting for that answer before.
On October 3, 2008 at 12:40 pm
to be honest, it is a satisfying explanation but use better picture next time.
looking forward for your next article
On October 12, 2008 at 2:28 am
Nice article. As far as physics is concern, the likely explanation it can offer is that light is an electromagnetic wave that is composed of several frequencies and we perceived them as colors. All object (opaque) give their colors by selective reflection ( selects a particular frequency). It turns out that the the atoms of most leaves in their younger stages have the ability to re-generate or reflect the frequency of light that the human eye perceives as green, therefore most leaves are green.However not all leaves do have the same atomic properties, therefore the occasional red and yellow ones.
On October 13, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hi Unofre,
Thank you very much for the additional information. But why does the human eye doesn’t perceive it as blue, orange or any other color? A follow up article will coming soon…
On October 14, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hi MJPPatrick,
You’re welcome, I hope it doesn’t offend you. I’m just sharing what I know a little about the physics of colors.
If the atoms of most leaves reflect the frequency of light that corresponds to blue. Then leaves would have been blue; similarly would have been orange or violet. But the only frequency reflected by most leaves is the one that corresponds to green, therefore the green color of most leaves.In addition, one of the colors in which the human eye is physiologically sensitive to is green together with red and blue. But leaves are not red and blue because they are absorbed by most leaves, thus depriving our eyes from perceiving leaves with those colors for our vision is dependent on the color(frequency) of light reflected by any opaque object.
Sincerely,
Unofre
On October 16, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Hi Unofre,
of course not. I learned from it. three “heads” is better than one isn’t?
On October 20, 2008 at 4:13 am
Interesting article…
On November 6, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Interesting scientific piece. A topic I know nothing about but, it was informative just the same. The pics were a bit blurry.
On November 9, 2008 at 2:52 pm
To Lauren, the pics are already been change.Thanks for your comment.
On November 14, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Nice article. Thank you!
Inna
On November 15, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Interesting, but most of all,you let us share simple things,and inside it find happiness.
On December 1, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Very informative, and good to learn new things with your easy to understand explanation..
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