What Is Violet in the Physics Spectrum? Key Facts for Students
Violet, a colour or spectrum? Well, most of you may think about the colour when you hear the word "Violet". Here we will know the violet meaning in terms of spectrum and colour variations. Violet has beautiful variations of shades like reddish Violet, shrinking Violet, violet indigo, etc. We will define the difference between Indigo and Violet further in this article. The shortest wavelength of the light spectrum is Violet. It is known to be the end of the spectrum. Besides, Violet has a wavelength between invisible ultraviolet and blue.
Violet Meaning: in Terms of Physics
With a wavelength ranging from 380 to 450 nanometer, violet light was discovered by Isaac Newton while dividing the visible light spectrum in 1672. When you talk about Violet in terms of Physics, it is the shortest wavelength light of the visible light spectrum. In other words, we can say that the shortest wavelength of light discernible to the human's eyes is Violet. Violet word from the flower of the same name. On the conventional wheel, Violet lies between blue and red colours and opposite to the colour yellow. Violet pigments come from cobalt phosphate, berries, carminic acid, manganese, kermes acid, and artificial chemical compounds.
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Violet Meaning: in Terms of Colours
As we have discussed earlier, whenever you hear the term "violet," the first thing that comes to your mind is colour. The name colour violet is originally a Greek word and added as "violet" in many languages. In the English language, the world is first found in the written record from The Buke Of John Maundeuill: "Men Find Diamonds Of Violet Colour." You may get confused when you want to differentiate the blue, indigo, purple, and Violet colours. You can define colours through many methods like a colour wheel or Munsell colour system.
Violet Indigo: Indigo and Violet Difference
Indigo: Purplish blue colours
Violet: Bluish Purple colour
You know very well now that Violet is the end of the visible spectrum, and it looks similar to purple. But Violet is a spectral colour and has a specific wavelength. Two primary colours, red and blue, make Violet. Whereas when you mix purple and blue, you will get indigo colours. Violet and indigo are both spectrum colours and present on the visible light spectrum.
Fun Facts of Violet
Red and blue do not form Violet: You may play with colours and mix them to make beautiful colours from primary colours in your childhood. You take red and blue colours to make the violet colours and add proper proportion to create the desired violet shade. Well, Joann and Arielle Eckstut had explained in The Secret Language Of colours that Violet is the shortest wavelength of the visible spectrum of light, and it is on the opposite side of the red. So, red and blue do not make Violet.
Violet Used in Phrases: Violet word is also used in phrases like shrinking Violet and withered Violet. Let’s discuss the shrinking violet meaning and withered violets meaning According to the other terms used in the phrases with the violet word, phrases have different meanings. Moreover, shrinking violet meaning indicates a shy person. Withered violet meaning is to become sapless and dry.
Violet Used For Wood: Wood means brown colours but have you ever seen Violet or reddish violet-coloured wood? Yes, you heard it correct; some wood is of reddish Violet or purplish colours. Such hardwood is called violet wood. Mostly kingwood and myall wood are known as violet wood. You can also consider the wood of Andira Violacea, a tree of Guiana, as violet wood and also used in making furniture.
Violet Shades: You can see many things around you having different shades of violet colours. The shades of Violet are mainly lavender, lilac, mauve, amethyst, plum, and deep purple. Lavender is a light violet colour. Lilac is the pinkish Violet, mauve lies in between lilac and lavender, amethyst is mystical, plum is reddish Violet, and darkest shade of Violet is deep Violet.
Violet Colours Popularity: In Europe and America, only a few rated violet as their favourite colours; they ordered other colours like blue, red, pink, brown, and white as their favourite one. Well, violet colours are associated with luxury, and hence it is worn by the Roman emperors, monarchs, and princes wear violet-coloured clothes. Yellow is the best combination with violet colours, and so violet boxes are used to store golden jewellery.
FAQs on Violet: Definition, Properties & Applications in Physics
1. What is violet light as defined in Physics?
In Physics, violet is defined as the light at the end of the visible spectrum with the shortest wavelength and the highest frequency that is perceptible to the human eye. It occupies the wavelength range of approximately 380 to 450 nanometers. When white light is passed through a prism, violet is the colour that deviates or bends the most due to its short wavelength.
2. What are the key properties of violet light?
The key properties of violet light are directly related to its position in the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Wavelength: It has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum, typically between 380-450 nm.
- Frequency: It possesses the highest frequency among all visible colours, approximately 668–789 THz.
- Energy: As energy is directly proportional to frequency (E=hf), violet light photons carry the most energy of any visible light.
- Refraction: It shows the maximum angle of deviation when white light is dispersed through a medium like a glass prism.
3. From a physics perspective, what is the difference between violet and purple?
The primary difference is that violet is a pure spectral colour, while purple is not. Violet has its own unique wavelength on the visible light spectrum and is a component of a rainbow. In contrast, purple is a composite colour that our brain perceives when it sees a combination of red and blue light simultaneously. There is no single wavelength of light that is 'purple'; it is an extraspectral colour created by perception, not by nature's spectrum.
4. Why does violet light bend the most when passing through a prism?
Violet light bends the most due to a phenomenon called dispersion, which is linked to its short wavelength. The refractive index of a material, like glass, is not constant for all colours; it is slightly higher for shorter wavelengths. Since violet has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum, it experiences the highest refractive index. According to Snell's Law, a higher refractive index causes a greater degree of bending or refraction, making violet light deviate the most from its original path.
5. How does violet light compare to its neighbours, indigo and ultraviolet (UV) light?
Violet light is bordered by indigo and ultraviolet light in the electromagnetic spectrum, with distinct differences:
- Indigo: Indigo is the spectral colour with a slightly longer wavelength and lower frequency than violet. It is very close to violet in the spectrum, and often, the distinction is subjective.
- Ultraviolet (UV) Light: UV light is located immediately beyond violet. It is invisible to the human eye because its wavelength is shorter (less than 380 nm) and its frequency is higher than violet light. This higher frequency gives UV light more energy, making it capable of causing sunburns and being effective for sterilisation.
6. What are some important real-world applications of violet and near-ultraviolet light?
The high energy of violet and near-ultraviolet (UV-A) light makes them useful in various fields. Key applications include:
- Sterilisation and Disinfection: The germicidal properties of UV light, which is adjacent to violet, are used to kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces, in air, and in water.
- Forensics and Security: UV 'black lights' cause certain substances like bodily fluids, counterfeit currency security threads, and fluorescent dyes to glow, making them vital in criminal investigations and authentication.
- Curing Materials: Specific wavelengths of violet and UV light are used in dentistry to harden fillings and in 3D printing to cure photopolymer resins.
- Insect Traps: Many insects are highly attracted to violet and UV light, a principle used in the design of electric bug zappers.
