How does visible light vary in wavelengths, and which color has the shortest and longest wavelengths?

Sourav PanNovember 8, 2024

Answered step-by-step

Visible light is a segment of the electromagnetic spectrum that is detectable by the human eye, typically ranging from approximately 400 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm. Within this range, different wavelengths correspond to different colors, arranged in order of increasing wavelength as follows:

• Violet: 380-450 nm (shortest wavelength)
• Indigo: 420-440 nm
• Blue: 450-495 nm
• Green: 495-570 nm
• Yellow: 570-590 nm
• Orange: 590-620 nm
• Red: 620-750 nm (longest wavelength).

In terms of wavelength, violet light has the shortest wavelengths, while red light has the longest wavelengths within the visible spectrum. This arrangement can be remembered using the mnemonic “ROYGBIV” (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)