If all the raindrops in the sky make contact with the suns rays why aren't there lots of rainbows in the sky?

Question

I know that the suns rays break apart when hit by raindrops and make rainbows so why doesn't it make lots of small rainbows? by Euan Stuart age 10

Answer 1

the veiwing angle is important and because we are low down, we are unable to see the effect, also water droplets in clouds diffuse the light which is why we do not see rainbows in fog

Answer 2

It has to do with what your location is in relation to the sun.

It looks like if you could move around a lot and keep the sun on the other side of the raindrops, you would think you could keep seeing a rainbow. But it doesn't work that way.

It is just that conditions have to be perfect for it to appear.


Hope this helps.

Answer 3

We only see one rainbow because only the light from some raindrops reaches the eye. A rainbow is always in the opposite direction of the Sun, relative to where you're standing. The raindrops in that direction reflect the broken light back to you, and you see a rainbow.