AFOQT Practice Test

How is white light best described when discussing colors?

1. It consists only of blue and violet frequencies

2. It is a mix of different frequencies of visible light

3. It creates a magnetic field when split

4. It contains no color components

The correct answer is: It is a mix of different frequencies of visible light

White light is best described as a mix of different frequencies of visible light. This definition is based on the understanding that white light encompasses all the colors of the visible spectrum combined. When white light passes through a prism or is otherwise dispersed, it separates into the various colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—that comprise it. This phenomenon is observable in rainbows and is fundamental to the study of optics and color theory. The other choices do not accurately describe the nature of white light. For example, stating that white light consists only of blue and violet frequencies excludes the full spectrum of visible light, leading to an incomplete understanding. Similarly, claiming that it creates a magnetic field when split does not pertain to the essential properties of light and color. Finally, the idea that white light contains no color components misrepresents its true nature, as white light is precisely the combination of multiple colors.