Rainbows (Was: Regular thread)

In summary, rainbows are caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight through water droplets in the air, resulting in the separation of white light into its component colors. They appear as an arc due to the spherical shape of the water droplets, and can only be seen when there is sunlight and water droplets present. All rainbows follow the same color pattern, but the intensity and brightness of the colors may vary. Double rainbows are not rare, and occur when light is reflected twice within a water droplet, creating a secondary rainbow with colors in reverse order.
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mrinmoymahapa
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Why rainbow formed ?
 
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Welcome to Physics Forums, mrinmoymahapa!

When you post a new thread, please try to give it a title that says something about what you're asking. I've changed the title of this thread accordingly.
 

Related to Rainbows (Was: Regular thread)

What causes rainbows?

Rainbows are caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight through water droplets in the air. When light enters a water droplet, it is refracted (bent) and then reflected off the back of the droplet before exiting. This process separates the white light into its component colors, creating a rainbow.

Why do rainbows appear as an arc?

Rainbows appear as an arc because the water droplets that create them are spherical in shape. This means that the light is refracted and reflected at different angles as it passes through each droplet, causing the rainbow to appear as an arc in the sky.

Can rainbows be seen at night or indoors?

Rainbows can only be seen when there is sunlight and water droplets present. This is why they are most commonly seen after a rainstorm during the day. However, it is possible to create rainbows using artificial light and water droplets, so they can be seen indoors as well.

Do all rainbows have the same colors?

All rainbows follow the same color pattern, from red on the outer edge to violet on the inner edge. However, the intensity and brightness of the colors may vary depending on the size and shape of the water droplets, as well as the angle of the sunlight.

Are double rainbows rare?

Double rainbows are not as common as single rainbows, but they are not considered rare. They occur when light is reflected twice within a water droplet, creating a secondary rainbow outside of the primary one. The colors in a double rainbow appear in reverse order with the secondary rainbow being dimmer than the primary one.

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