VIBGYOR — Violet to Red
VIBGYOR — Rainbow Colours
Class 10Class 12NEETJEE
Items to Memorize
- Violet — shortest wavelength, bends the most
- Indigo
- Blue
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red — longest wavelength, bends the least
Mnemonic Tricks
How It Maps
| Cue | Maps To |
|---|---|
| V | Violet |
| I | Indigo |
| B | Blue |
| G | Green |
| Y | Yellow |
| O | Orange |
| R | Red |
Why It Sticks
The word VIBGYOR is the mnemonic and the answer at the same time. It reads from Violet (shortest wavelength, bends most) to Red (longest wavelength, bends least), which is the standard order of the visible spectrum.
Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain
How It Maps
| Cue | Maps To |
|---|---|
| Richard | Red |
| Of | Orange |
| York | Yellow |
| Gave | Green |
| Battle | Blue |
| In | Indigo |
| Vain | Violet |
Why It Sticks
This gives the reverse order ROYGBIV, from Red down to Violet. Many textbooks and rainbow diagrams list colours from the top (red) downward, so it is worth knowing both directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VIBGYOR?
VIBGYOR is the sequence of the seven colours of the rainbow, or visible spectrum: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red. It is what white light splits into when it passes through a prism.
What is the trick to remember rainbow colours?
The word VIBGYOR itself is the trick. For the reverse order (Red to Violet, ROYGBIV) use 'Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain'.
Which colour has the longest and shortest wavelength?
Red has the longest wavelength and bends (refracts) the least. Violet has the shortest wavelength and bends the most, which is why violet is on the inner edge of a rainbow.
Why does white light split into VIBGYOR colours?
A prism refracts each colour by a different amount, an effect called dispersion. Violet bends most and red least, so white light spreads out into its seven component colours.
Is VIBGYOR asked in exams?
Yes. The order of colours, dispersion of light and the prism experiment are common in Class 10 and Class 12 optics, and appear in NEET and JEE.