science slide

How are Rainbows Made by Light?

By: Christopher K.

Rainbows  are  created  by  light.  

BUT  WHY?  

The  white  light  is  actually  7  different  colors.  When  the  light  hits  a  prism,  it  bursts  into  the  seven  colors  of  light  (red,  yellow,  green,  blue,  orange,  violet,  indigo),  which  is  the  color  of  a  rainbow.      

White  light  from  the  Sun  has  to  hit  the  raindrops  at  a  certain  angle  before  a  rainbow  is  possible.  It  is  best  if  the  sun  is  fairly  low  in  the  sky  such  as  dawn  and  late  afternoon.  The  angle  is  important  as  it  effect  the  direct  the  light  travels  after  it  hits.    

When  the  rainbow  is  formed,  it  makes  a  circle  shape,  but  one  half  is  invisible.  So  that  is  why  we  can  only  see  half  of  the  rainbow.  

A  full  circle  rainbow  (what  a  rainbow  really  looks  like)  

Half  circle  rainbow  (What  you  see  with  your  eye)    

Links  I  Used  To  Get  The  Rainbow  Photographs  

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/peren/msg0412060022688.html  http://www.wxdude.com/Rainbows.html  http://www.freerainbowtables.com/  http://www.sedonastory.com/page/3/  http://proguitarshop.com/earthquaker-­‐devices-­‐rainbow-­‐machine.html  

Thanks  For  Watching!  

I  hope  you  learned  something  about  rainbows  in  this  slide.