Different colors in visible light have different frequencies because color is directly related to the wavelength of light. Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that spans a range of wavelengths from approximately 400 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red). Each color within this range corresponds to a specific wavelength and frequency.
Wavelength and frequency are inversely related in electromagnetic waves. This means that as the wavelength of light decreases, the frequency increases, and vice versa. Shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies, while longer wavelengths correspond to lower frequencies.
When light interacts with matter, such as passing through a prism or being absorbed and emitted by atoms, the different wavelengths of light are separated or selectively absorbed. This separation or absorption process reveals the different colors of visible light. For example, a prism disperses white light into its constituent colors, forming a spectrum, because each color component has a different wavelength and frequency.
In summary, different colors have different frequencies in visible light because color is determined by the specific wavelength of light.