What is Rainbow: Definition and 61 Discussions

A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the Sun.
Rainbows can be full circles. However, the observer normally sees only an arc formed by illuminated droplets above the ground, and centered on a line from the sun to the observer's eye.
In a primary rainbow, the arc shows red on the outer part and violet on the inner side. This rainbow is caused by light being refracted when entering a droplet of water, then reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.
In a double rainbow, a second arc is seen outside the primary arc, and has the order of its colours reversed, with red on the inner side of the arc. This is caused by the light being reflected twice on the inside of the droplet before leaving it.

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  1. Chi Meson

    Unbelievable Rainbow Phenomenon: 4 Cycles of Color!

    Last evening there was the perfect rainbow condition: A bright evening sun shining into a rainstorm just overhead. I went outside to see both complete arcs from horizon to horizon . THen... the inner rainbow (the most commonly seen rainbow, with red on the outside of the bow) looked odd...
  2. P

    How broad is the rainbow spectrum?

    We see red to violet but how much further does it actually extend? I suppose it comes down to (1) the wavelengths of light not strongly absorbed by the atmosphere and (2) the limits on a water drop sufficiently refracting the longer/shorter wavelengths. Is the invisible portion of a rainbow...
  3. R

    Light going through glass to make a rainbow

    Someone in a physics class here proposed, a white light beam going through a meter worth of glass and because different frequences refract at different angles, a 1 cm rainbow would come out the other end. The only way I see this to be possible is for the beam to be infinetely thin. I mean REALLY...
  4. A

    Explain how rainbow are form in term of photon

    Can some one explain how rainbow are form in term of photon. and also how photon are related into frequency.
  5. N

    What's the Mystery Behind the Rainbow Ring and its Bright Center?

    Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is a photograph showing a rainbow ring, inside of which is a bright region. APOD also carries a challenge - what is the explanation for sequence of colours and the bright region? Surprisingly, lots of bright students, knowledgeable teachers - even the...
  6. N

    A Ride On The Rainbow Warrior (The Missing Columbia BLACK BOX)

    A Ride On The Rainbow Warrior (The “Missing” Columbia BLACK BOX) I posted this once before (on the Dark Government website). Time to bring it out again… A Ride On The Rainbow Warrior (The “Missing” Columbia BLACK BOX) The following article is taken from “SC Infosecurity News (The...
  7. N

    Rainbow's Red & Blue: Why Light Refraction is Reversed

    why light refraction by the rain drop is red colour at bottom but blue colour on top . However we can see the rainbow is that :the red colour is at top and the blue is at bottom?
  8. jimmy p

    Rainbow Dreams Over Gold: Poison's Lyrics and Life Lessons

    "sometimes a rainbow, baby, is better than a pile of gold" song lyrics by the band Poison. Would you rather be lucky or rich? I personally would want to be lucky cos I am sick of being unlucky. Money is not too much of a matter for me, I've been poor before. but at least now i am...
  9. V

    Why is a rainbow curved and how does it appear from an airplane?

    WHY DOES A RAINBOW APPEAR CURVED? AND HOW WOULD IT APPEAR FROM AN AEROPLANE( CIRCULAR?) AND WHY?
  10. S

    Sunlight hit my cd and a rainbow was produced

    sunlight hit my cd and a rainbow was produced. can anyone tell me why ?
  11. Hydr0matic

    Exploring the Mysterious Rainbow Patterns of a Soap Bubble

    To know what I'm talking about you'll have to do a little experiment... Go to your bathroom, take some soap and foam up your hands. Make a "bubble" with your index finger and your thumb, then reflect the light from a lamp in the "bubble". After a little while oil-like rainbowcolored patterns...
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