Formation of a Rainbow

How Formation of Rainbow Takes Place

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 Formation of a Rainbow

Formation of a Rainbow

A rainbow is a visible phenomenon that occurs when sunlight strikes droplets of water in the atmosphere (Schaaf, 2013). The rainbow is seen

as a circular band of seven colours that includes violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. There exists three properties of light that

play a major role in the formation of a rainbow, namely; refraction, dispersion and total internal reflection. The process of rainbow formation

starts when sun rays hit water droplets in the atmosphere. Buick (2010) summarizes that the process normally occurs after rain or during mild

showers. In this essay, the steps for the formation of a rainbow are discussed.

Firstly, refraction of light occurs. Refraction is the bending of light when it passes from one medium to another medium of different optical

density. Sunlight passes through the suspended droplets of water thus passing from air (lighter medium) to water (denser medium). The

velocity of the rays reduces as they go into water (Kenny, 2011).

Secondly, light dispersion follows. The decrease in velocity of the rays makes the light to bend towards the normal line. Since the white light

is composed of multiple colours of different wavelengths, splitting of the white light occurs. The separation of constituent colors is known as
 Formation of a Rainbow

dispersion (Gallant, 2011). Red light experiences the least deviation which causes its formation on the top while violet undergoes the highest

deviation making it to become a bottom shade.

Lastly, directly after dispersion, complete internal reflection of the rays happens inside the water droplets. When the light rays strike the

water-air border, total inside reflection occurs as the incident angle is greater compared to the critical angle. Consequently, the rays are

reflected back again. However, total inner reflection would not manifest if the incidence angle is smaller than the critical angle (Schaaf,

2013). Striking the water-air boundary again, the rays undergo the final refraction. Since they shift from water (denser medium) into air (less

dense medium) the speed of the rays increases and they bend away from the normal line (Kenny, 2011). The rays that result from the water

droplets consist a band of splendid colours of the rainbow. An observer has to take a proper viewing angle to see the rainbow. Red light

undertakes a deviation of 42 degrees and violet experiences a 40 degrees deviation. The various other colours take deviations of between 40

and 42 degrees (Buick, 2010.

In summary, water droplets split white light into its constituent colors to form a rainbow. A rainbow is normally a spectrum of seven colours

that include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. When light strikes suspended water droplets in the air, it goes through various

properties of light. For instance, it goes via refraction, dispersion and total inside reflection. Both the sunshine and water droplets must be

present for rainbows to form. Nonetheless, they must be positioned in opposite directions. Notably, an observer can only see the rainbow

when the sun is situated driving her or him.

 Formation of a Rainbow

References

Buick, T. (2010). The rainbow sky: An exploration of colors during the photo voltaic program and outside of. Ny: Springer.

Gallant, R. (2011). Rainbows, mirages, and sundogs: The sky like a supply of question. Big apple: Macmillan.

Kenny, J. (2011). The rainbow reserve. Denver: Accord Pub.

Schaaf, F. (2013). Miracles from the sky: Observing rainbows, comets, eclipses, the celebs, together with other phenomena. Big apple: Dover

Publications.