Question

List the colors of light in the visible spectrum in order of increasing frequency.

Short answer

Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red

Step-by-step solution

- Understand Visible Light Spectrum

The visible light spectrum is the range of electromagnetic waves that are visible to the human eye. Each color within this spectrum corresponds to a different wavelength and frequency.

- Identify Colors in the Visible Spectrum

The primary colors of the visible spectrum in order of increasing wavelength (and decreasing frequency) are Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

- Arrange Colors by Increasing Frequency

Since frequency is inversely related to wavelength, we reverse the order of the colors listed by wavelength to get them in order of increasing frequency.

- List Colors in Increasing Frequency

Reversing the order from Step 2, the colors of light in the visible spectrum in order of increasing frequency are: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red.

Key concepts

Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic waves are a fundamental concept in physics that describe how energy can travel through space. These waves are created by the movement of electric and magnetic fields. They propagate (spread out) in all directions and do not need a medium (like air or water) to travel. This is why we can receive sunlight on Earth even through the vacuum of space.
The spectrum of electromagnetic waves covers a wide range of wavelengths and frequencies, from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays. Visible light is just a small part of this spectrum. Understanding these basics helps in grasping more specific concepts like visible light.

Wavelength and Frequency

Wavelength and frequency are key characteristics of all waves, including electromagnetic waves. They have an inverse relationship.
Wavelength is the distance between two peaks (or troughs) of a wave. It is usually measured in meters or nanometers.
Frequency refers to how many waves pass a given point in one second and is measured in Hertz (Hz).
The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength, and vice versa. This relationship can be expressed with the equation:

\[ c = \lambda \cdot f \]
where:\(- c\) is the speed of light (approximately \(3 \times 10^8\) m/s),\(\lambda\) (lambda) is the wavelength, and\(f\) is the frequency of the wave.

This concept is crucial for understanding why different colors in the visible spectrum have different wavelengths and frequencies.

Visible Spectrum Colors

The visible spectrum includes all the colors of light that the human eye can perceive. When we talk about the visible spectrum, we often list the colors in two specific orders: by increasing wavelength or by increasing frequency.

Colors by Wavelength
From longest wavelength to shortest, the colors are:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Indigo
• Violet

\(Red\) has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency, while \(Violet\) has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency.

Colors by Frequency
The reverse order applies if you list them by increasing frequency:

• Violet
• Indigo
• Blue
• Green
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red

This order highlights that \(Violet\) light waves oscillate the most frequently (highest frequency), and \(Red\) light waves oscillate the least frequently (lowest frequency).