Book 1, Question 56 · Video
Why Do Rainbows Appear? Light Bends and Splits!
Rainbows look like magic, but they come from light, water and a little science. Sunlight shines into tiny drops of water in the air, bends and splits into all its colors, and you s
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do rainbows appear?
The Big Idea
Rainbows look like magic, but they happen because of light, water, and a little science! A rainbow is sunlight, split into its colors by tiny drops of water.
Sun Plus Water Drops
Step one: sun plus water drops. Sunlight shines through tiny drops of water in the air, like rain or mist. Sunlight looks white, but it's really a mix of every color!
Light Bends and Splits
Step two: light bends and splits. When light enters a drop, it bends. Each color bends a little differently, so the colors spread apart, like in a prism. The light bounces off the back of the drop, and bends again on the way out!
Sun at Your Back
Step three: stand with the sun at your back. You'll see a rainbow when the sun is behind you, and the water drops are in front of you. Millions of drops, each sending one color to your eyes, paint the whole rainbow!
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! A rainbow is like a color fan. All the colors are always there, just waiting for light to fan them out! Red is always on the outside of the bow, and violet is on the inside. Remember the order with a funny name: Roy G. Biv!
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Sometimes you might see a second, fainter rainbow above the first. Its colors are reversed! From an airplane, you can sometimes see a rainbow as a full circle! No two people see exactly the same rainbow. Each person sees light from different drops. Rainbows are easiest to spot when the sun is low.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Try this on a sunny day. Stand with your back to the sun. Spray a hose or spray bottle into the air in front of you. What do you see? Can you name every color? Keep your eyes open. Wonders are all around you!
Outro
Rainbows appear when sunlight, water drops, and you are in just the right spots! Keep asking, keep exploring! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!