The eye's response to colored light

[eluckham]

Do you know why or know the experiment where if you stare at a colored light bulb for a few seconds, then at a white surface, your eye sees dots of the next color on the visible spectrum? For example, stare at a yellow light and you see green dots? Why is that?

[MelissaB]

There's a decent explanation of the phenomenon in a similar Science Buddies experiment, here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ?from=Home. It depends on what grade you're in, though; the explanation on that page may be too simple or too complicated for you. If it's either, post back and we can clarify.