2007-11-20 13:33:12 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Droplets of water in the atmosphere cause refraction of sunlight, much like a prism does. This is only visible as a rainbow when the viewer has a particular angle relative to the Sun and the water vapor though--which is why the colors are "bow" shaped, with the ends seeming to reach for the ground. If viewed at the proper angle from the air, a "rainring" can be seen!
2007-11-20 13:38:27 · answer #1 · answered by Garon Whited 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As the sunlight passes into a drop of rain,the water acts as prism.The ray is bent,or refracted as it enters the drop and is separated into different colours.The refracted ray undergoes total internal reflection at the opposite inner side of the drop and another refraction (separating the colours further) while emerging out of the drop.
2007-11-20 23:36:42 · answer #2 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The index of refraction of water is different depending on the color, so different colors are bent different amounts as light passes through raindrops. This dispersion of light causes the rainbow.
2007-11-20 13:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by pegminer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rainbows only occur on the opposite side of the sky as the sun, near sunset if its raining to the east but the sun is shining, there will be a rainbow...
2007-11-20 15:39:10 · answer #4 · answered by ŠתּἇʀʅʏȻħȁɾɭɏ44 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when the rain is over the droplets present in the sky act as prisims in the atmosphere to the sun ,refraction of water present in the sky takes place this causes the coulours in the rainbow
2007-11-21 01:51:15 · answer #5 · answered by islam-exact religion&way of life 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the reflections off the pot o gold and jewels at the end of the rainbow...:)
2007-11-20 13:44:29 · answer #6 · answered by charlesdclimer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pollution from factories and marketplace upstream. additionally, if is an oil refinery close by, the unneeded hydrocarbons could desire to be getting dumped into the flow. i don't know of any organic motives, sorry.
2017-01-05 22:00:32 · answer #7 · answered by simonson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the color spectrum is being reflected off of the rain that recently fell and is showing all the visible colors from the sun.
2007-11-20 13:38:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dispersion of light.
2007-11-20 13:45:42 · answer #9 · answered by moosa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋