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How is the Rainbow formed?


What is a Rainbow?

A rainbow is a multi-colored, arc-shaped phenomenon that can appear in the sky. The colours of a rainbow are produced by using the reflection and dispersion of light via water droplets existing in the atmosphere. An observer may additionally perceive a rainbow to be located either close to or some distance away, however, this phenomenon is now not actually located at any precise spot. Instead, the appearance of a rainbow depends entirely upon the position of the observer in relation to the path of light. In essence, a rainbow is an optical illusion.

Rainbows have a spectrum made up of seven colors in a unique order. In fact, school teens in many English-speaking nations are taught to keep in mind the name “Roy G. Biv” as a mnemonic system for remembering the colours of a rainbow and their order. “Roy G. Biv” stands for: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The outer area of the rainbow arc is red, while the inner area is violet.

How the formation of rainbow takes place?

A rainbow is formed when sunlight (generally sunlight) passes through water droplets existing in the atmosphere. The light waves change path as they pass via the water droplets, resulting in two processes: reflection and refraction. When light reflects off a water droplet, it actually bounces back in the opposite path from where it originated. When light refracts, it takes a specific direction. Some people refer to refracted light as “bent light waves.” 

A rainbow is shaped due to the fact white light enters the water droplet, where it bends in quite a few one-of-a-kind directions. When these bent light waves reach the other facet of the water droplet, they mirror back out of the droplet alternatively of completely traversing the water. Since the white mild is separated inner of the water, the refracted light appears as separate hues to the human eye. 

Colors of the Rainbow

Each individual wave of colour has a unique length. For example, red light has the longest wavelength and solely bends at about a 42-degree angle. Violet light, in contrast, has the shortest wavelength and bends at around 40 degrees before exiting the water droplet. Because the red light wavelength is longer, it most frequently appears on the outside part of the rainbow. 

Similarly, the different colours are additionally ordered according to their wavelength. Other waves of light are additionally mirrored from the rainbow, however, these light waves are not seen to the bare human eye. These invisible rays are existing on each sides of the rainbow. Ultraviolet rays are shorter than violet rays and x-rays are even shorter than ultraviolet rays. Gamma radiation is at the furthest severe of this side of the rainbow. At the other end of the spectrum is infrared radiation and radio waves.

Types of Rainbows

 Double Rainbow

A double rainbow takes place when a 2nd rainbow is seen above the primary rainbow. The second rainbow is not as vivid as the first. This phenomenon is made possible through double reflection, which causes the colour order of the 2nd rainbow to be reversed.



Although most rainbows are related with sunlight taking place immediately after a rain shower, some rainbows are created by the light of the moon. Moonbows are less common than daytime rainbows. 

These illusions can only be seen in some areas of the world, usually where waterfalls are located. Moonbows are regularly viewed in the spray created toward the bottom of these falls. Additionally, moonbows typically require the light of the full moon to be visible. Most humans view moonbows as totally white.


Like moonbows that generally occur in waterfall spray, fogbows can be seen in instances of thin fog combined with substantial sunlight. In this case, light reflects off a dense collection of water particles, which consequences in a broad and shiny rainbow. Fogbows are almost completely white in color. 

This white look happens because each light wave is projected over a very large area. These large streaks tend to blend together, creating the white color. However, red and blue streaks of color can every so often be seen along a fogbow's edges.


Reflection Rainbow

Reflection rainbows can be viewed above massive bodies of still water, such as lakes. These reflections show up when a primary rainbow is visible over the surface of water. The water reflects the primary rainbow, developing a secondary rainbow above the primary. 

This secondary rainbow is only a reflection of color and is extremely fainter than the primary rainbow. Its shape takes on an elongated form and typically stretches upwards in a straight line, alternatively than in an arc shape. These two rainbows show up to contact where each meets the earth, growing a wider and brighter section of the phenomenon. Reflection rainbows are uncommon.

So, Do you know any other kinds of rainbow also? Please comment.


Anant Mishra said...

Wow! Till now I only knew about the rainy rainbow. XDXD
Just kidding.. ...... NICE POST

Isabella said...

Thank you/...