How are rainbows formed?
Where do they star and where do they finish?
2007-09-23 04:24:55 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Rainbows are formed due to refraction and reflection of the sun's rays as they fall on rain drops.As the ray passes into a drop of rain,the water acts a tiny prism.The ray is bent,or refracted as it enters the drop and separated into different colours.The colours,thus dispersed undergo total internal reflection on the opposite inner side of the droplet and reach the eye to enable us feel the virtual image of the rainbow.
In fact it is cicular in shape with no beginning and end.We see only a part of it as the remaining part is hidden below limited by the horizon.
2007-09-23 06:56:01 · answer #1 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are formed due to refraction of the sunlight shining through the water droplets like a prism,they appear to touch the ground because of your angle of perception. In an airplane they are complete circles.
2007-09-23 12:23:52 · answer #2 · answered by lmndrp44 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in fables, they always have a pot of gold at one end...good luck finding it.
However, each person sees a different rainbow, as the one you see will be refracted off a different drop of water!
2007-09-23 15:00:16 · answer #3 · answered by lyon1977 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋