Why Do Rainbows Need Both Sun and Rain?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do rainbows need both sun and rain?

The Big Idea

Rainbows need both sun and rain because sunlight has to pass through raindrops to make colors. Each raindrop bends and reflects light, and splits it into colors. No rain, no classic rainbow!

Sun Behind You

Step one: the Sun is behind you. To see a rainbow, the Sun needs to be low and behind you, with rain in front of you. Sunlight shines over your shoulder onto the falling drops.

Drops Bend Light

Step two: raindrops bend the light. When sunlight enters a raindrop, it bends. That's called refraction. Different colors bend by slightly different amounts.

Back to Your Eyes

Step three: the light bounces back. Inside the drop, the light bounces off the back wall and exits, bending again. Millions of drops send colors to your eyes, forming a rainbow.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at one raindrop! White sunlight enters the drop. The drop bends and bounces the light. The colors spread out into a rainbow. And they travel back toward your eyes.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A rainbow isn't an object. It's light, and it depends on where you stand. You need the Sun behind you and rain in front. Rainbows often appear in the morning or late afternoon, when the Sun is low. Never look straight at the Sun. Keep your back to it.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Let's hunt for a rainbow. Next sunny shower, stand with the Sun at your back. Look at the rain in front of you. Can you spot a rainbow? Never look at the Sun, and stay away from lightning.

Outro

Rainbows happen when sun and rain team up. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!