Why do we see colors?

Answer: We see colors because objects reflect certain light that our eyes detect.

We see colors because our brains invent color without any light entering. — Wrong. The brain does interpret signals from the eyes, but it does not invent color without light entering. Color vision starts when light reaches the retina and activates cone cells. Without light, there is no signal for the brain to turn into color.

We see colors because objects reflect certain light that our eyes detect. ✓ — Correct! Most objects do not make their own colored light; they reflect some parts of incoming light and absorb others. The reflected light enters our eyes and stimulates cone cells, which send signals the brain interprets as color. Different mixes of light produce different color experiences.

We see colors because objects release their own colored light that our eyes detect. — Wrong. Hot objects can glow, but everyday objects usually reflect light rather than emit their own colored light. If objects emitted the colors we see, they would look colored in the dark, which they do not. The option gets the light entering our eyes partly right, but it confuses reflection with emission.