why are rainbows in the shape of an arch? why not a flat sheet of rainbow colors?

Answer 1

Because of the Earth's atmosphere and the moisture in it's ability to bend light.

Answer 2

Rainbows are cause by refraction of sunlight in water droplets. In order to have a rainbow, you need to have direct sunlight shining on falling rain. The refraction angle is determined by the speed of light through water which is about 1.33 times less than the speed of light through air. The speed of light is also dependent on its wavelength or colour. As a result, you will see the rainbow at around 40 to 42 degrees of arc away from the sun. You may also see a rainbow on reverse order at 50 to 53 degrees away. The reason why it is an arc is because the rainbow must be equidistant from the sun at 40 to 42 degrees.

Answer 3

Because rainbows occur in nature and are the only evidence that light is an array of seven colors
have you ever seen a rainbow?
They are quite beautiful actually
nature is comprised of many colors in the color spectrum
and not one of them isn't a combination of the primary colors
red
orange
yellow
green
blue
indigo
violet
every other color you or I have will or could see withour eyes is a combination or these colors

Answer 4

its because of the way that light hits the Earth. Since the Earth is round, the light rays from the sun reflect off of the Earth at different angles, creating the rainbow "arch" that you see.

Answer 5

Rainbows are actually a complete circle. you only see the "arch"

Answer 6

Because a rainbow is really a holographic McDonald's sign. You can only see half of it from your vantage point. China sees the other half.

Answer 7

The rainbow follows the curvature of the earth.

Answer 8

Tats the way God planned it! He 's the one that created and designed the real, true rainbow!