ROYGBIV: Difference between revisions

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* [[Violet (color)|Violet]]
* [[Violet (color)|Violet]]


⚫
The colors are arranged in the order of decreasing [[wavelength]]s, with red being 650 [[nanometer|nm]] and violet being about 400 nm.
Another way to remember it is:


⚫
The slightly less [[euphonious]] reverse VIBGYOR is sometimes encountered.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
[[Richard of York|Richard
Of
York]]
Gave
Battle
In
Vain.

⚫
The colors are arranged in the order of decreasing [[wavelength]]s, with red being 650 [[nanometer|nm]] and violet being about 400 nm.


==History==
==History==
Line 33: Line 25:


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 color|spectral hue]]).{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
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 color|spectral hue]]).{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

⚫
The meaningless but speakable word ROYGBIV is also used as a mnemonic for the spectral colors, as is its slightly less [[euphonious]] reverse VIBGYOR.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}


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 Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York|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 "'''R'''ead '''O'''ut '''Y'''our '''G'''ood '''B'''ook '''I'''n '''V'''erse" may be used.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}<!--source given on talk page, unsure how to cite in the article-->
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 Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York|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 "'''R'''ead '''O'''ut '''Y'''our '''G'''ood '''B'''ook '''I'''n '''V'''erse" may be used.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}<!--source given on talk page, unsure how to cite in the article-->

Revision as of 04:20, 21 December 2009

Wikiquote has quotations related to English mnemonics#Science.
This article is about the mnemonic. For the comic book character named Roy G. Bivolo, see Rainbow Raider.

Roy G. Biv is a mnemonic for the sequence of hues in the visible spectrum, in rainbows, and in order from longest to shortest wavelength:

The colors are arranged in the order of decreasing wavelengths, with red being 650 nm and violet being about 400 nm.

The slightly less euphonious reverse VIBGYOR is sometimes encountered.[citation needed]

History

Newton's color wheel that introduced indigo as a basic color. The uneven color division along the color circle correlates with the intervals of the musical major scale.

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".[citation needed]

"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.

References

  1. ^ Newton, Isaac (1704). Opticks. {{cite book}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  2. ^ http://www1.umn.edu/ships/updates/newton1.htm
  3. ^ 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)
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