Why Do Paints Mix Differently From Colored Lights?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do paints mix differently from colored lights?

The Big Idea

Paint and light follow opposite rules. Paint mixes by taking colors away, but light mixes by adding colors together. That is why they act so differently!

Paint Takes Away

Step one: paint takes colors away. Each paint soaks up some colors of light and bounces back others. Red paint bounces back mostly red light. Paint on paper acts like a filter that subtracts colors.

Mixed Paint

Step two: mixing paints takes away even more. Red paint soaks up green, and green paint soaks up red. Together, very little light bounces back, so you see a dull brown. Mixing paint leaves fewer colors. The more paints you mix, the darker it gets.

Light Adds

Step three: light adds colors together. Red light plus green light reaches your eyes all at once, and you see bright yellow. More light means more colors. Paint and light really do follow opposite rules.

A Closer Look

Let's compare the two! With paint, colors take light away. Red plus green paint makes a dull brown. With light, colors add together. Red plus green light makes bright yellow. Remember, light adds and paint takes away!

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Paint mixes by subtracting colors. Light mixes by adding colors. Red light plus green light makes yellow. Red paint plus green paint makes dull brown. Wear an apron, and wash your hands.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Mix a blob of red paint with a blob of green paint on paper. Note the color you make. Now think about red and green flashlights. How is it different?

Outro

Paint takes colors away, but light adds them together. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!