Science Stuff

How the Hell Do Rainbows Work?

Rainbows are one of those things that make you stop, look up, and go, “Whoa.” But how the hell do they actually work? It’s not magic, and no, there’s no pot of gold (we checked). Instead, it’s straight-up physics at play, and it all starts with a little thing called refraction.

When sunlight hits a raindrop, the light slows down and bends because water is denser than air. This bending of light is called refraction, and it’s the key to making rainbows.

Next up: dispersion. White light is made of all the colors in the spectrum—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. (Yep, ROYGBIV. Remember that?) As the light refracts inside the raindrop, it splits into those colors because each wavelength bends at a slightly different angle. Red bends the least, and violet bends the most, creating that iconic rainbow spread.

Finally, we’ve got reflection. The light bounces around inside the raindrop like it’s at a rave, then exits at just the right angle to hit your eyeballs. The result? You see that vibrant arc of colors.

And here’s the kicker: rainbows are actually full circles. Yep, you’re only seeing half the story because the ground cuts off the bottom part. Want to see the whole thing? Hop in a plane or climb a mountain.

So next time you spot a rainbow, you can impress your friends with your newfound rainbow knowledge. Or, you know, just enjoy the view—it’s one of nature’s coolest optical illusions.

Who remembers this classic?

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