2006-10-23 23:28:00 · 16 answers · asked by colin s 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Rainbows are actually circular, We normally only see part of the entire circle, so it appears as an arc.
The colors are formed by water being refracted by sunlight. Since the water is dispersive, the amount that the sunlight is bent depends upon the wavelength, and hence colour, of the light's constituent parts. Blue light is refracted at a greater angle than red light, but because the area of the back of the droplet has a focal point inside the droplet, the spectrum crosses itself, and therefore the red light appears higher in the sky, and forms the outer colour of the rainbow. Because of the difference in angles, the rainbow forms a circle.
2006-10-23 23:42:42 · answer #1 · answered by kidd 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All raindrops refract and reflect the sunlight in the same way, but only the light from some raindrops reaches the observer's eye. These raindrops are perceived to constitute the rainbow by that observer. The position of a rainbow in the sky is always in the opposite direction of the Sun with respect to the observer, and the interior is always slightly brighter than the exterior.
2006-10-24 06:39:39 · answer #2 · answered by sheikaella 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because light does travels in a straight line! Have a look at the reference page, and the rainbow simulator for a detailed explanation
2006-10-26 15:54:25 · answer #3 · answered by Dome Slug 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light does not travel in a straight line if you believe in the photon theories. It can be affected by enormous forces like planetary gravity. If light traveled in a straight line, there would be no such thing as a black hole.
That said, when light moves through other media, its wavelengths experience "friction" like the space shuttle hitting the earth's atmosphere, and bend according to those frequencies that make up the spectrum of colors that you see in the rainbow.
2006-10-24 06:36:44 · answer #4 · answered by Big Blair 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the planet is round, and if you've looked at a rainbow made by a prism then you'd see that the rainbow made is in a straight line.
2006-10-24 06:37:15 · answer #5 · answered by jadeaaustin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the sunlight comes in contact with tiny droplets of water, the light prisms into a wide spectrum of visible colors, and due to the curvature of the earth it is an optical illusion that the light appears to bend.
2006-10-24 11:24:35 · answer #6 · answered by Bmc420 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually, it's not an arc, it's a circle. It's just that in someplace in the world, the rainbow is either too high up to see, or it's just invisible.
2006-10-24 10:56:35 · answer #7 · answered by JawaBoy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its because a rainbow is created by light reflecting of rain drops, which fall at random levels, therefore creating an arc. Not exactly sure, but that's my theory
2006-10-24 06:31:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Light only travels in a straight line when it isn't being refracted.
2006-10-24 07:38:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the same reason the rainbow appears as different colours rather than white
the light refracts as it goes through the drops of rain/moisture
each colour refracts at different angles
thereofre bending and seperating into the different colours
2006-10-24 06:43:18 · answer #10 · answered by mumoftheyear 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋