Rainbow

A rainbow is a colourful sight in the sky after it rains. It happens because of sunlight and water droplets. When sunlight goes through a water droplet, it bends and spreads into different colours, like a rainbow. Sometimes, we see a full circle of colours, but usually, it’s just a half-circle above the ground. The colours in a rainbow go from red on the outside to violet on the inside. Looking carefully, you may spot a double rainbow, where the colours are reversed in the second arc. Check out the article and learn more bout the Rainbow and its formation.

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What is a Rainbow?

A rainbow is a beautiful and colourful natural phenomenon caused by the interaction of sunlight with water droplets in the atmosphere. It appears as a multicoloured arc in the sky, typically seen after rain or near water at slightly different angles, causing them to separate. The light then reflects off the back of the droplet and exits, bending again as it leaves the droplet. This separation of colours creates the rainbow’s spectrum, which always appears in the same order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

The colours of a rainbow are caused by the refraction (bending), reflection, and dispersion of light. When sunlight enters a water droplet, it slows down and bends. The different light colours bend in Rainbows are not located in a specific place in the sky. They are an optical illusion created by how sunlight interacts with water droplets. The rainbow’s position depends on the position of the sun and the observer. You can only see a rainbow if you are standing between the sun and the water droplets.

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Light’s Secret Of Rainbow

Imagine light as a beam carrying tiny packets of energy called photons. Though invisible to our naked eye, these photons exist in various colours, each with a different wavelength. When white light, which combines all these colours, passes through a prism (a triangular glass object), it bends and separates into its colours, creating a spectrum. This resembles how raindrops act like tiny prisms, splitting sunlight into colourful components.

Types Of Rainbow

Secenodary Rainbow: The secondary rainbow forms because sunlight reflects twice inside water droplets. Although centred on the sun, it appears at a greater angle than the primary rainbow. This makes it appear on the same side of the sky as the primary rainbow but slightly outside. The colours in the secondary rainbow also appear in reverse order compared to the primary one.

Twinned Rainbow: Another interesting type of rainbow is the twinned rainbow, which is very rare. Unlike the double rainbow, where we see two separate arcs, the twinned rainbow appears as two rainbow arcs splitting from one base. Unlike in a secondary rainbow, the colours in the second arc of a twinned rainbow are in the same order as the first one.

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Full Circle Rainbow: Rainbows can form full circles, but we usually only see the top half from the ground. To see the entire circle, we must be at a high viewpoint, like a tall building or an aircraft. Additionally, sometimes, we might notice extra faintly coloured bands near the violet edge of a rainbow. These are called supernumerary rainbows or bands and add to the beauty of the rainbow.

Rainbows in Action

When sunlight shines through raindrops falling from the sky, the light bends slightly as it enters and exits each drop. This bending separates the different light colours, causing them to appear in a specific order – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This order is called the colour spectrum and is always the same, just like the sequence of notes in a musical scale!

Colours Of Rainbow

The colours we see in a rainbow follow a specific order, typically remembered as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This sequence can be recalled using a mnemonic such as “Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain” or the acronym “ROYGBIV”. However, some may reverse the order as VIBGYOR.

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A renowned scientist, Isaac Newton, once divided the rainbow into seven main colours. He believed there were connections between colours, musical notes, celestial objects, and days of the week. Initially, Newton identified red, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Later, he added orange and indigo, making it seven, akin to the notes in a musical scale.

However, the colours we perceive in a rainbow differ slightly from those in a spectrum. They appear less vivid and can blend more seamlessly. This occurs because sunlight scatters in various directions when it encounters water droplets, forming a rainbow. At times, colours may overlap, making it challenging to count them precisely.

Consequently, the number of colours we observe in a rainbow can vary, influenced by the size of the water droplets. Yet, if we refer to the colours in a spectrum, they generally align with the primary colours in a rainbow.

Experiment Time:

Ready to witness the magic of light separation firsthand? Here’s a fun experiment you can do at home:

Materials:

• A sunny day (essential!)
• A glass of water
• A sheet of white paper

Instructions:

Step 1: Fill the glass with water and place it in a sunny spot.

Step 2: Hold the white paper behind the glass, adjusting its position until you see a rainbow appear on the paper.

Step 3: Observe the colors. Can you identify all the colours of the spectrum?

Explanation:

The water in the glass acts like a giant raindrop, bending the sunlight passing through it and separating the colours. You have recreated a mini-rainbow in your own home!

Beyond the Rainbow

While rainbows usually appear after rain, they can also occur in other situations where sunlight interacts with water droplets. Have you ever seen a rainbow near a waterfall or even when watering your plants? The principle remains the same, and the beauty of the rainbow continues to amaze us.

Rainbow FAQ

What is a rainbow?

A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon caused by reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light in water droplets, resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky.

How are rainbows formed?

Rainbows are formed when sunlight is refracted, or bent, as it enters a raindrop, then internally reflected, and finally refracted again as it exits the drop. This process disperses the light into its various colours, creating the familiar arc shape.

Why do rainbows appear after rain?

Rainbows appear after rain because raindrops act as tiny prisms, dispersing sunlight into their component colours. The angle of sunlight and the observer's position determine the appearance and location of the rainbow.