A rainbow is a natural spectrum of sunlight in the form of bows appearing in the sky when the sun shines on rain drops. It is combined result of reflection, refraction and dispersion of sunlight from water droplets, in atmosphere. Always it formed in the direction opposite to the sun. ... Thus, we see a rainbow.

Rainbow Formation

Rainbows are one of the most beautiful natural phenomena that occur when sunlight is refracted, or bent, and reflected inside raindrops in the atmosphere. The formation of a rainbow involves several key steps, including the dispersion of light, refraction, and reflection.

Dispersion of Light

The first step in the formation of a rainbow is the dispersion of light. Sunlight is made up of a spectrum of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, the light waves are scattered by tiny water droplets present in the air.

Refraction of Light

Once the light waves are scattered, they are refracted as they enter the water droplets. Refraction occurs because light travels at different speeds through different mediums. As the light enters the water droplets, it slows down and changes direction, bending towards the normal line. This bending of light is known as refraction.

Internal Reflection of Light

After refraction, the light waves undergo internal reflection inside the water droplets. When the light waves reach the back surface of the droplet, they are reflected back towards the front surface. This reflection causes the light to change its direction once again.

Emergence of Light

Once the light waves have undergone internal reflection, they emerge from the water droplets. As they exit the droplets, the light waves are refracted once more, bending away from the normal line. This bending causes the different colors of light to spread out, or disperse, creating a spectrum of colors.

Rainbow Formation

The final step in the formation of a rainbow is the observation of the dispersed light. When the dispersed light reaches our eyes, we see a circular arc of colors in the sky, known as a rainbow. The order of colors in a rainbow is always the same, with red on the outer edge and violet on the inner edge.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the formation of a rainbow involves the dispersion of light, refraction, and reflection inside water droplets in the atmosphere. The combination of these processes creates the beautiful spectrum of colors that we observe in the sky. Rainbows are a fascinating natural phenomenon that never fails to capture our awe and wonder.