2007-11-30 04:00:46 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
its really a circle however you're not able to see the whole thing
2007-11-30 05:30:06 · answer #1 · answered by Passion Curls 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually they are circular. If you ever get the chance to see one from an airplane, you will see a complete circle of rainbow.
The ground interferes with seeing the bottom of the rainbow when standing on the earth's surface.
2007-11-30 04:09:30 · answer #2 · answered by Water 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reflection of light through particles of water vapor in the air and your relative position makes it look the way it does...
2007-11-30 04:31:34 · answer #3 · answered by Xavier 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's just how Mr. Rainbow invented them!
2007-11-30 04:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is because you are standing on the ground. If you were flying high in the air, a rainbow might appear as a circle. Here is one
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dcircular%2520rainbow%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dks-ans&w=500&h=375&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F66%2F165449427_c6c1b56d86_m.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fabbyladybug%2F165449427%2F&size=152.8kB&name=165449427_c6c1b56d86.jpg&p=circular+rainbow&type=jpeg&no=16&tt=554&oid=3f6564a75cc0f75a&fusr=abbyladybug&tit=Glory+%28formerly+entitled++Weird+Circular+Rainbow+%29&hurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fabbyladybug%2F&ei=UTF-8&src=p
2007-11-30 04:07:40 · answer #5 · answered by JimZ 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They're not, they just look semicircular by moving across the horizon.
Some are, but it's just the way the water moves through the atmosphere.
2007-11-30 04:07:59 · answer #6 · answered by Supersonic Heretic 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Look stupid otherwise. From above they the opposite way round
2007-11-30 04:04:47 · answer #7 · answered by sean t 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋