When a rainbow does appear why do we only see half of it and not a full rainbow?

Answer 1

Rainbows occur at a specific angle from the sun (about 120 degrees, if I'm remembering correctly). The full rainbow is a circle and at it's center is your shadow. Directly behind you when you look at it, is the sun!

If you could see the whole circle raised above the ground, that would mean that your shadow was up in the air, and the sun was below the horizon. Of course, if the sun is below the horizon, it's NIGHT!

Therefore, you'll only see an arc of a circle.

Occasionally, there's a phenomenon of "double rainbow". In this special circumstance, you'll notice that the color order of the rainbow is reversed! (red orange yellow green blue indigo violet - which you can forever remember as "Roy G. Biv")

Answer 2

Hi. The rainbow is a circle. To see more than half a circle you must be airborne with the Sun above you. This is actually not too unusual.

Answer 3

Uhmmm I've seen a whole rainbow. Hek I've seen two whole rainbows in southern germany in I think January of this year!

Answer 4

ive seen a full rainbow or aleast two halves. Havent you maybe there are just clouds in the sky blocking part of your vission or maybe it dosnt rain enough to create the full illusion. why are you searching for the pot of gold at the end?

Answer 5

It's the refraction of light, usually off of water/rain. Depending on where you are, where your horizon is, the light is, and the water is,... you can regularly see a full rainbow.

Answer 6

Because if you ever saw where the rainbow ended, the location of the pot of gold would be revealed.

Answer 7

I dont know i have always pondered that lolz