• Question: Is clear a colour and if so is water even a colour?

    Asked by gekogeorgie to Ben, Dave, Ed, Sam, Susana on 21 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Sam Horrell

      Sam Horrell answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      If something is clear it is known as transparent. This measn that instead of reflecting light light just passes straight through it.

      In small quantities water appears clear because very little light is scattered. Water in the sea and lakes appears blue because the larger body of water allows absorption of red light leading to reflection of blue light. Other particles found in the water and reflections of the colour of the sky can also contribute to the blue colour.

    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 23 Jun 2013:

      Clear isn’t really a colour – if something is clear it doesn’t absorb or reflect any light – for something to have a colour it must absorb and/or reflect light.

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