Easy Ways to Remember the 7 Colours of the Rainbow for Students
What Exactly is a Rainbow?
A bow or an arc of seven colours (a rainbow) is visible in the sky only when the rain occurs either in sunlight or due to other atmospheric conditions. The processes of reflection, refraction, and dispersion cause the rainbow formation. The sunlight that is casted in the sky opposite to the Sun produces rainbows.
The observer may not be able to see the rainbow in any location. It can be visible at an angle of 42 degrees from the light source's opposite direction. Due to the colour of the droplets, any single coloured light may pass through them, resulting in the change in colour.
Who Discovered the Rainbow?
In 350 BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle began wondering about rainbows and their colours. Around 65 AD, the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger took up his ideas and discussed them in Book 1 of Naturales Quaestiones. Seneca's logic was remarkably ahead of his time, even foreshadowing Newton's discovery of the prism effect centuries later. Thinkers, philosophers, and naturalists have studied the phenomena of the rainbow, noticing its appearance not only in the sky but also in other settings.
Water vapour or droplets and sunshine are needed in every case of characteristic colour flashes. Finally, by splitting light with a prism, Isaac Newton demonstrated that white light is made up of a spectrum of colours.
He also observed that the order in which the colours of a rainbow appeared never varied, and that they always appeared in the same order. He proposed that a spectrum contains seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (VIBGYOR when the initials of the colours are read in reverse).
7 Colours of Rainbow
The 7 colours of a rainbow can be listed as follows.
7 Colours of Rainbow
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
We may easily remember the rainbow colour sequence by memorising the term "VIBGYOR," which is the reverse colour sequence, or by remembering "Roy. G. Biv".
A Rainbow Behind the Hills
The Colours of the Rainbow and Their Meanings
Here's an overview of the rainbow's seven hues and what each one represents.
1. Red
Red has the longest wavelength of any of the displayed colours. It's a vibrant colour that evokes powerful feelings.
For Christians, the colour red represents vitality and knowledge. Red is associated with the Muladhara chakra, which is associated with anchoring for Buddhists and Hindus.
2. Orange
Orange is the second colour in the rainbow and is a warm, vivid hue. It is a cheerful colour that makes people feel friendly and at ease.
Orange is a combination of the hues on either side (red and yellow), and it feeds off of both. The colour orange, for example, is created by combining the joy of yellow and the vitality of red. Orange in this context, according to the chakra system, indicates the energy that is generally associated with creativity, sexuality, and reproduction.
3. Yellow
Yellow is said to be the happiest colour in the rainbow.
Yellow, the colour of sunshine, is a blend of red and green that symbolises vitality and warmth. It is frequently associated with joy, clarity of thought, and communication. Yellow is frequently associated with creativity. Put something yellow where you can see it and enjoy it if you're looking to start a new creative project or endeavour.
4. Green
Green is the colour of life, and it may be found in the middle of the rainbow. It is also a colour that represents wealth in the West, which is why our money is green.
It's a vibrant colour that represents development and rejuvenation.
5. Blue
Blue, the hue of the sky and the sea, is associated with relaxation, calm, and stability. This should come as no surprise. When people want to unwind, they frequently turn to water. Simply changing the wallpaper on a computer background to an ocean view can help in this regard.
Blue is typically connected with divinity and is used to convey trust and loyalty because it is the hue of the skies.
5. Indigo
Indigo is the most disputed colour in the rainbow.
Scientists and weather enthusiasts have debated for years whether indigo should be on the list at all because it is difficult to detect. Is indigo actually deserving of its own category, or are they mistaking it for blue or violet?
Along the same lines, people have debated whether indigo is blue or purple for a long time. The answer is that it is both. (However, indigo is three-quarters blue and one-quarter purple if you want to be more precise.)
6. Violet
Violet is one of the most popular rainbow colours. And rightfully so.
Violet has the shortest wavelength in the rainbow while red has the longest. Violet is the mildest colour of all, located on the opposite end of the rainbow from red. However, don't mistake subtlety with weakness. Violet has its own special superpowers.
Conclusion
Rainbow is a very interesting and natural pheomenon that every individual enjoys observing, irrespective of their age. Especially, children love to see it, when it appears.
Moreover, in the chakra system, it indicates the Sahasrara Chakra that coincides with the point where human consciousness connects with divine and spiritual consciousness.
FAQs on What Are the 7 Colours of the Rainbow? Names, Order & Facts
1. What are the seven colours of a rainbow, listed in the correct order?
The seven colours of a rainbow always appear in the same order. From the top of the arc to the bottom, the order is: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. This sequence is a result of the different wavelengths of light being bent at slightly different angles.
2. What is a simple way to remember the order of the rainbow colours?
A common and easy way to remember the order of the colours in a rainbow is by using a mnemonic acronym. The most famous one is VIBGYOR, which stands for:
V - Violet
I - Indigo
B - Blue
G - Green
Y - Yellow
O - Orange
R - Red
This helps you remember the sequence from the bottom of the rainbow's arc to the top.
3. How is a rainbow formed? Explain the role of sunlight and raindrops.
A rainbow is an optical phenomenon caused by the interplay of sunlight and water droplets. The process involves two main principles: refraction and dispersion. When sunlight, which contains all colours, enters a spherical raindrop, it bends or refracts. As it does, the white light splits into its different colours (dispersion). This separated light then reflects off the inner back surface of the raindrop and refracts again as it exits, forming the colourful arc we see in the sky.
4. Why is red always the top colour of a primary rainbow?
Red is always at the top of a primary rainbow because it has the longest wavelength of all the visible colours. When sunlight passes through raindrops, each colour is bent (refracted) at a slightly different angle. Red light bends the least, exiting the raindrop at an angle of 42 degrees relative to the sunlight. Violet light, having the shortest wavelength, bends the most and exits at an angle of 40 degrees. This difference in angles places red at the top of the arc and violet at the bottom.
5. What is the difference between VIBGYOR and ROY G. BIV?
Both VIBGYOR and ROY G. BIV are correct acronyms used to remember the colours of the rainbow; they just represent different viewing orders. VIBGYOR lists the colours from the inside of the arc outwards (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red). In contrast, ROY G. BIV lists the colours from the outside of the arc inwards (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Which one you use depends on whether you are memorising the colours from bottom-to-top or top-to-bottom.
6. Are there really only seven colours in a rainbow?
No, a rainbow is actually a continuous spectrum of colours, with millions of shades blending seamlessly into one another. There are no sharp boundaries between colours. The idea of seven distinct colours (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) was introduced by Sir Isaac Newton. He chose the number seven for cultural and historical reasons, but from a physics perspective, the rainbow contains a full range of colours that our eyes perceive as a continuous band.
7. Can we see a rainbow at any time of the day?
No, you cannot see a rainbow at any time. For a rainbow to be visible, two conditions must be met: the sun must be shining from behind the observer, and there must be water droplets (like rain or mist) in the air in front of the observer. Rainbows are most commonly seen in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. This is because the optimal angle of 42 degrees between the sunlight, the raindrop, and the observer's eye is more easily achieved.
8. What is the difference between a primary and a secondary rainbow?
The main differences between a primary and a secondary rainbow relate to their formation, appearance, and colour order.
Formation: A primary rainbow is formed by one internal reflection of light inside a raindrop. A secondary rainbow is formed by two internal reflections.
Appearance: The primary rainbow is the brighter and more commonly seen arc. The secondary rainbow appears fainter and is located above the primary one.
Colour Order: The colour order is reversed. In a primary rainbow, red is on top and violet is at the bottom. In a secondary rainbow, the order is flipped, with violet on top and red at the bottom.
