ROYGBIV
Roy G. Biv is a mnemonic for the traditional sequence of hues in the visible spectrum and in rainbows:
In Roy G. Biv, the colors are arranged in the order of decreasing wavelengths, with red being 650 nm and violet being about 400 nm.
The reverse VIBGYOR is used in many Commonwealth countries.
History
In Classical Antiquity, Aristotle had claimed there was a fundamental scale of seven basic colors. In the Renaissance, several artists tried to establish a new sequence of up to seven primary colors from which all other colors could be mixed. In line with this artistic tradition, Newton divided his color circle, which he constructed to explain additive color mixing, into seven colors[1]. His color sequence with the unusual color indigo is still kept alive today by the Roy G. Biv mnemonic. Originally he used only five colors, but later he added orange and indigo, in order to match the number of musical notes in the major scale[2][3].
The Munsell color system, the first formal color notation system (1905), names only five "principal hues": red, yellow, green, blue, and purple (although note that Munsell's purple is not a spectral hue).[citation needed]
Another traditional mnemonic device has been to turn the seven initial letters of the spectral colors into a sentence. In England the most common is "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain". The mnemonic is said to refer to the defeat and death of Richard, Duke of York at the Battle of Wakefield. In order to avoid reference to this defeat, those from Yorkshire developed the alternative "Rowntrees of York Gave Best in Value". Alternatively, the Biblically inspired "Read Out Your Good Book In Verse" may be used.[citation needed]
Roy G Biv in popular culture
"Roygbiv" is a song from Boards of Canada albums Boc Maxima and Music Has the Right to Children.[4]
"Roy G. Biv" is a song from the They Might Be Giants album Here Comes Science.
"Roy G. Biv" is the pseudonym taken by Hugh Bliss in Sam & Max Save the World.
"Roy G. Biv" is the name of a challenge in the downloadable game Peggle Nights
"Roy G. Biv" appears in Beakman's World characterized as a hippie.
"Roy G. Biv" was a member of the band Bell Biv DeVoe.
References
- ^ Newton, Isaac (1704). Opticks.
{{cite book}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ http://www1.umn.edu/ships/updates/newton1.htm
- ^ Hutchison, Niels (2004). "Music For Measure: On the 300th Anniversary of Newton's Opticks". Color Music.
{{cite web}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ http://www.discogs.com/Boards-Of-Canada-Music-Has-The-Right-To-Children/release/1354