why do we get rainbows?
2007-06-21 15:55:13 · 8 answers · asked by miss michy 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
The rainbow's appearance is caused by dispersion of sunlight as it goes through raindrops. The light is first refracted as it enters the surface of the raindrop, reflected off the back of the drop, and again refracted as it leaves the drop. The overall effect is that the incoming light is reflected back over a wide range of angles, with the most intense light at an angle of 40°–42°. The angle is independent of the size of the drop, but does depend on its refractive index. Seawater has a higher refractive index than rain water, so the radius of a 'rain'bow in sea spray is smaller than a true rainbow. This is visible to the naked eye by a misalignment of these bows.[2]
2007-06-21 17:26:06 · answer #1 · answered by jason 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunlight shining through rain will cause the light rays to split into individual wave lengths with cause the phenomenon of the rainbow.
Aren't they wonderful and gorgeous?
2007-06-21 23:00:21 · answer #2 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God promised Noah after the Great Flood that he would never again hurt the earth (that way), The rainbow is a sign of that promise.
2007-06-21 23:25:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light refracting in water droplets. Basically the water takes white light and divides it into the full color spectrum. That's why they always appear after it rains.
2007-06-21 22:58:51 · answer #4 · answered by Heather 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's just sunlight reflecting off of water/rain in the air. it's curved because the earth curved
2007-06-21 22:59:22 · answer #5 · answered by misterlyle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow
http://eo.ucar.edu/rainbows/
pages
2007-06-21 23:03:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you touch yourself at night!
Nah sorry I'm just playing. Look on Wikipedia.org.Type in rainbows.
Good luck and God bless you!
2007-06-21 22:59:07 · answer #7 · answered by Checkmait 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
so we get lucky charms
2007-06-21 22:57:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋