The characteristic of visible light that is responsible for its color is D. wavelength.
Explanation:
1. Visible light consists of a spectrum of colors ranging from violet to red.
2. Each color in the spectrum corresponds to a specific wavelength of light.
3. When white light (which contains all the colors) passes through a prism, it gets separated into different colors based on their wavelengths.
4. The wavelength of light determines the color we perceive. For example, shorter wavelengths correspond to colors like blue and violet, while longer wavelengths correspond to colors like red and orange.
5. Therefore, the wavelength of light is what gives each color its distinct appearance in the visible spectrum.
