In our everyday world, most objects do not emit or reflect colors that lie below the infrared or above the ultraviolet spectrum. The visible light spectrum is the range of electromagnetic radiation that our eyes can perceive, and it spans from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers (nm). Colors below the range of visible light are referred to as infrared, while colors above the range are referred to as ultraviolet.
Infrared radiation lies just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum, and it is commonly used in applications such as night vision, remote controls, and thermal imaging. However, objects that emit or reflect primarily infrared radiation are typically perceived as warm or hot rather than having distinct colors.
Ultraviolet radiation lies just beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum. While some objects do emit or reflect ultraviolet light, our eyes are not sensitive to these wavelengths, so we do not perceive them as distinct colors. However, certain animals can see into the ultraviolet spectrum, which allows them to detect patterns or colors that are invisible to us.
It's worth noting that there are specialized scientific instruments and techniques that can detect and measure radiation outside the visible spectrum, including infrared and ultraviolet. These instruments are commonly used in fields such as astronomy, materials science, and environmental monitoring. However, in terms of everyday objects and our visual perception, colors are primarily limited to the visible light spectrum.