What phenomenon occurs when two beams of different colors are focused onto the same area?

The correct answer, additive color, describes the phenomenon that occurs when two beams of different colors are combined to create a new color. This process is based on the principle that when light from various sources is mixed, the wavelengths combine, resulting in a brighter color. For instance, when red and green light overlap, they create yellow. This mixing occurs in a way that enhances the light's brightness, making it the foundational concept for technologies such as stage lighting and digital displays.

In contrast, subtractive color refers to how pigments work; in this case, different color materials absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others, which can result in darker colors when mixed. Color washing generally pertains to a technique used in lighting where a single color is applied over an area, creating a varied atmospheric effect rather than mixing colors. Color mixing is a broader term that can encompass both additive and subtractive methods, but specifically for light, additive color is the more precise answer when discussing beams of light intersecting and creating new colors together.