Sometimes when I look up in the sky at a rainbow I see another rainbow that is backwards. Instead of going R,O,Y,G,B,P it goes P,B,G,Y,O,R. Is this a relection? Also, are rainbows actually a full circle but we can only see half of it because of the horizon?
2006-10-14 01:44:48 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
A SECONDARY RAINBOW!
A secondary rainbow is fainter than the main rainbow because the light is reflected twice by each raindrop. This also reverses the colours of the secondary rainbow.
In the middle latitudes where storms travel from west to east, rainbows are usually seen when a storm is over. Whereas in the tropics, where storms travel from east to west, rainbows are often seen before a storm arrives.
2006-10-14 01:47:53 · answer #1 · answered by ☺♥? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's the primary rainbow from the light that enters the raindrop and is reflected from the rear of the droplet.
There's the secondary rainbow from the light being redirected from the surface of the raindrop, and hitting a different area of the back of the droplet.
There can be a 3rd rainbow, hitting a different part of the droplet, and that's directed behind you, when you're looking at the rainbow. But I've never seen that one either.
2006-10-14 02:03:58 · answer #2 · answered by MK6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure of the reflection, but you can see a full circle rainbow if you are flying in a plane.
2006-10-14 01:48:02 · answer #3 · answered by Grundoon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It must be a what is known as a Wobniar.
2006-10-14 09:36:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋