Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
or Reflections of natural Bodies (as 'tis generally believed,) but
Original and connate properties
, which in divers Rays are divers.
2. To the same degree of Refrangibility ever belongs the same
colour, and to the same colour ever belongs the same degree of
Refrangibility.
3. The species of colour, and degree of Refrangibility proper to any
particular sort of Rays, is not mutable by Refraction, nor by Reflection
from natural bodies, nor by any other cause, that I could yet observe.
7. But the most surprising, and wonderful composition was that of
Whiteness
. There is no one sort of Rays which alone can exhibit
this. 'Tis ever compounded, and to its composition are requisite all
the aforesaid primary Colours, mixed in a due proportion.
13. … the Colours of all natural Bodies have no other origin than
this, that they are variously qualified to reflect one sort of light in
greater plenty then another.
Later, on the basis of very extensive experimental research,
Newton formulated his universal colour theory, where he suggested
that all colours in the universe, which are generated by light, are colours
of either homogenous or compounded lights and that, when quantities
and types of rays that excite the eye are given, then the colour of the
light is known (Newton,
1730
, pp.154-161). In his own words,
And therefore if the reason of any Colour whatever be required,
we have nothing else to do than to consider how the Rays in the
Sun's Light have by Reflexions and Refractions, or other causes,
been parted from one another, or mixed together; or otherwise to
find out what sorts of Rays are in the Light by which that Colour is
made, and in what Proportion (Newton,
1730
, p. 160).
2.2 An alternative to Newton's theories
of light and colour
Newton's (
1671
/1672) paper represents one of the most important
contributions in the history of science. In order to adequately appreciate
this eminent contribution, it is necessary to pay due attention to
