The Colors of the Rainbow
People often associate the rainbow with a sense of joy and beauty. After all, the sight of a bright rainbow in the sky, complete with its wide range of colorful hues, is something that can bring a smile to anyone’s face. Many cultures and belief systems across the world also maintain that rainbows hold a deeper meaning and purpose, often associated with good luck, divine miracles and even cosmic connections, making them symbols of hope and good fortune. Though the core of this iconic visual phenomenon is, of course, the concept of the spectrum of seven colors, it is interesting to ask what exactly these colors of the rainbow are, and where they come from.
The Scientific Origins of Rainbow Color
Put simply, a rainbow is created when light is refracted and dispersed through raindrops. This means that a mixture of rain, sunshine and the right angle must all be present for a rainbow to be seen. When the sunlight passes through raindrops, each droplet acts like a prism, separating out the spectrum of light into its various component colors. All of the colors that come together to make a rainbow are part of this visible light spectrum, and they are all recognized individuall as distinct hues by the human eye.
The Traditional Color Variations of a Rainbow
Though there is no definitive list of colors attributed to the rainbow, most cultures, belief systems and authority figures would agree that there are seven predominant hues present—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. This is known officially as ‘Roy G Biv,’ a memorable acronym for the those seven core colors, in the order that they appear within the rainbow. It is interesting to note that the acronym is actually derived from the German sounding word ‘Vibgyor’, when broken down.
The Different Shades of the Rainbow
In addition to the ‘Roy G Biv’ list of traditional colorc, rainbows can also often show up in much more diverse and vibrant array of different hues, tones and shades. Though red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet still remain the core seven colors, additional tints and shades of the primary rainbow hues are also commonly seen, such as turquoise, fuschia and lavender.
These various combinations can create a much richer rainbow, with a far greater range of distinct and beautiful colors than the more conservative ‘Roy G Biv’ list suggests. Ultimately, each individual rainbow can be shaped in uniquely different ways. Therefore, the color of the rainbow ultimately will depend on which particular tints and tones are most represented within the arc of light.