A spaceship is designed to support animal life for a multiyear voyage to the outer planets of the solar system. Plants will be grown to provide oxygen and to recycle carbon dioxide. Since the spaceship will be too far from the sun for photosynthesis, an artificial light source will be needed. Suppose a plant has a unique photosynthetic pigment and the leaves of this plant appear to be reddish yellow. What wavelengths of visible light are absorbed by this pigment?
A) red and yellow
B) blue and violet
C) green and yellow
D) green and red

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reddish-yellow leaves indicate that red and yellow wavelengths are reflected, not absorbed. Therefore, the plant likely absorbs the complementary colors, which are blue and violet.

A Spaceship Is Designed to Support Animal Life for a Multiyear