Today, purple dye comes from cochineal insects. The color also symbolizes creativity and imagination. Purple was first made from snails in a time-consuming, expensive process, so it is associated with royalty and wealth. Blue dye was once made from indigo, and synthetic indigo is its most common source today. In the English language, the color has some connotations with sadness. It also exudes confidence, authority and responsibility. Blueīlue represents security, peace and calmness. Green pigments used to be made with toxic chemicals, but safe alternatives are available today, including mint and grass. This hue has blue’s calmness and yellow’s energy, resulting in a balanced, harmonious color. Green is the color of the earth, symbolizing growth, renewal and abundance. Yellow dye is made from dandelions, celery and other natural sources. It is one of the oldest colors in history, used for sun gods. The color evokes cheerful, happy moods, prompting celebration. Yellow is a bright, energetic color connected to light and sunshine. (Image credit: Shutterstock) When we direct solar rays through a prism, we see all the colors of the rainbow come out the. The dye comes from natural resources like carrots and turmeric. The electromagnetic spectrum, from highest to lowest frequency waves. Orange was common in ancient art and is sacred in many cultures. Orange is a vibrant color associated with the autumn season, so the color symbolizes movement and change.

It also has a physical effect - red increases metabolism, respiration rates and blood pressure. As the color of fire and blood, this hue is deeply connected to the human experience. Red is a passionate color associated with both violence and love. Each color has different feelings and images associated with it. Since the wavelength for indigo is similar to blue and purple, it is generally omitted from the rainbow.Ĭultural and personal experiences give colors their meaning. Though the order of the colors will always be the same, the way the spectrum is defined has changed over time. When light passes through a prism, it always refracts the different colors in the same order because each wavelength bends at a unique angle. Red has the lowest frequency at the top of the arc, and violet has the highest frequency at the bottom of the arc. What Does the Order of the Colors of the Rainbow Mean? The ROY G BIV wavelengths are as follows:

Because each color has a different wavelength and frequency, each color of light separates and becomes visible when passing through a prism. Humans can see light between about 400 and 700 nanometers (nm) - the visible spectrum. A shorter wavelength results in a higher frequency and vice versa. Light travels in waves, and its frequency is the number of wavelengths that pass a given point each second. Frequency and Exact Color Measurements of the Rainbow Each color is unique in its frequency measurements and the values and meanings attributed to it by society. The spectrum is derived from the color circle with the addition of the tertiary color indigo. This spectrum is called ROY G BIV, an acronym for the rainbow’s colors: When a prism breaks light apart, it shows the visible spectrum in which each color blends into the next.

Spectrum of colors