A rainbow is a beautiful, multi-colored arc that we sometimes see in the sky! Here's how it works:
What Causes a Rainbow?
Rainbows appear when sunlight shines through water droplets. Think of when it's raining and the sun comes out. That's when you might see a rainbow!
- Sunlight: The sun's light is actually made of all the colors mixed together.
- Water Droplets: Raindrops, mist, or even water from a sprinkler can act like tiny prisms.
- Light Bending (Refraction): When sunlight passes through a water droplet, it bends and changes direction, much like light bends when it goes through a glass of water.
- Splitting Colors: As the light bends, the colors that make up the sunlight get separated. This is how we see the different colors of a rainbow.
The Colors of the Rainbow
You'll usually see seven main colors in a rainbow, always in the same order:
| Color |
|---|
| Red |
| Orange |
| Yellow |
| Green |
| Blue |
| Indigo |
| Violet |
- Think of the rainbow as a natural light show where sunlight and water work together.
- The colors you see are always in the same order because of how light bends when it enters the water droplet.
When Can You See a Rainbow?
- Rainbows usually appear when it's raining on one side and sunny on the other.
- You need to have the sun behind you, and the rain in front of you, to see a rainbow.
- Sometimes, you can even see rainbows near waterfalls or fountains where there's a lot of mist.
Rainbows are a reminder of how beautiful the natural world can be! They are a great example of how sunlight and water interact to create something magical.
