How many colors are there in a rainbow?

A rainbow is typically understood to have seven distinct colors, which can be remembered using the acronym ROYGBIV. This stands for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Each color represents a specific wavelength of light refracted through water droplets in the atmosphere, creating the spectrum that we observe.

The presence of seven colors illustrates how light can be separated into different wavelengths. When sunlight enters a water droplet, it slows down and bends, which causes the light to split into its component colors. This phenomenon is not just limited to a specific number; however, the traditional depiction of seven colors has stuck in popular culture due to its clarity and ease of memorization.