Why is the eye most sensitive to the color green?

Philippines
June 12, 2010 12:53am CST
My physics instructor mentioned that red is the first color to reach our eyes (thus, used in ambulance letters), that yellow and black are the most contrasting colors (thus, used in pedestrian lanes) and that the eye is most sensitive to the color green. I can easily understand the reason behind red, yellow and black, but I'm really curious about the reason behind the eye being most sensitive to the color green. Why is the eye most sensitive to the color green? Does anyone have any idea?
2 responses
• India
19 Jun 10
Hi, When light falls on an object and then is reflected back in our eyes, the object becomes visible to us. Now each color of light has distinct wavelength and frequency. The red light has the highest wavelength, to be make it simple, red lights penetrate deeper through a medium. Now what will be the color that our eyes are most sensitive to? It will be red, of course. But as per as the contrast is concerned. The combination of colors that have maximum difference of wavelength will project maximum contrast. So it is not only a certain color that makes it brilliant. It is the surroundings. If the color of an object and that of its surroundings have a huge difference in wavelength, our eyes will be quite sensitive to the object. Thanks God bless you
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
13 Jun 10
My science teacher advised us that when our eyes are tired from reading, we must look at something green, like the canopies of the trees. That is because green is soothing and the eyes get to relax.