Environment
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Why do Rainbows Form?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Rainbows are a striking and beautiful meteorological phenomenon caused by the refraction of light. In order for rainbows to form, the sun must be near the horizon, and there must be a heavy fog, mist, or rain opposite the sun. An observer standing between the sun and the rainbow would see a 180 degree arc of colors which run through the visible spectrum from red to violet. In some cases, if conditions are right, double rainbows will form, with a pale rainbow in reversed colors above the primary rainbow, and in other instances, a fully circular rainbow has been observed, usually from inside an aircraft flying over the Earth.

Although rainbows have been observed, written about, and depicted in art for centuries, their cause was not understood until physics began to explore the properties of light. Essentially, the cause of a rainbow is the reflection of sunlight through individual drops of water. Light enters the water and reflects from the opposite side of the water drop, bouncing back through the point of entry. Because the angle or refraction of the light changes as it bounces back, it filters the light into different colors, which arrange themselves with red at the top and violet at the bottom because red is the longest wave length, and violet is the shortest.

The reflection of sunlight through individual drops of water causes a rainbow.
The reflection of sunlight through individual drops of water causes a rainbow.

When double rainbows form, the light refracts twice, causing a fainter rainbow to mirror above the primary one. Potentially, a triple rainbow could form as well, although it is extraordinarily rare. As soon as the water dissipates enough or the sun moves, the rainbow will disappear, because conditions are no longer optimal for the refraction of the light through the drops. It is also possible for a moonbow to form, although because humans have difficulty distinguishing color in the dark, it usually appears in shades of white and gray.

A double rainbow may form when light refracts twice.
A double rainbow may form when light refracts twice.

People seeking rainbows should go outside when the sun is near the horizon and there has been a heavy rain, or there is an active storm. If the observer turns his or her back to the sun and looks in the direction which is immediately opposite the sun, he or she may see rainbows if the conditions are right, with the apex of the arc located directly opposite the sun. In some instances, light conditions are right for rainbows to form in close proximity to an observer: otherwise, the rainbow will continue to look as though it is moving away from the pursuer until it finally disappears altogether, because the observer has actually passed through it.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments

anon245979

@anon134672: You should make one with a mirror and water. Look it up!

anon134872

i am doing a science project and my question is how rainbows form and for my final project i have to make a rainbow out of glass. what should i do?

Kaylaflocka Gill

I'm sorry but this was not helpful.

anon25958

i love this site it is so so so so so so so so so so so helpful!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)

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    • The reflection of sunlight through individual drops of water causes a rainbow.
      By: Dmitry Pichugin
      The reflection of sunlight through individual drops of water causes a rainbow.
    • A double rainbow may form when light refracts twice.
      By: victor zastol'skiy
      A double rainbow may form when light refracts twice.
    • Someone positioned between a rainbow and the sun would see the colors of the visible spectrum from red to violet.
      By: Peter Hermes Furian
      Someone positioned between a rainbow and the sun would see the colors of the visible spectrum from red to violet.
    • There must be a heavy fog, mist, or rain opposite the sun for a rainbow to form.
      By: veneratio
      There must be a heavy fog, mist, or rain opposite the sun for a rainbow to form.