The color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects. When white light, which is a combination of all colors, hits an object, the object absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others. The color we perceive is the color of the light that is reflected. For instance, a red apple appears red because it reflects red wavelengths and absorbs other colors.

The phenomenon of color and reflection is governed by the physics of light. According to the theory of color, different wavelengths of light correspond to different colors. When light hits an object, the object's surface interacts with the light waves. If the surface is smooth and non-absorbent, it will reflect the light waves without altering their wavelengths. This is why we see the color of the object as it is.

Data from various scientific studies support this understanding. For example, a study published in the Journal of the Optical Society of America found that the color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects. The study used spectrophotometry to measure the reflectance of different objects and found that the color of an object is directly related to the wavelengths of light it reflects.

Another study, published in the journal Optics Express, investigated how the color of an object can change depending on the angle of incidence of the light. The study found that the color of an object can appear different depending on the angle from which it is viewed, due to the way light reflects off its surface.

In conclusion, the color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects. This principle is fundamental to our understanding of color and is supported by scientific research.