Why Can You Sometimes See a Double Rainbow?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why can you sometimes see a double rainbow?

The Big Idea

You sometimes see a double rainbow because light can bounce twice inside raindrops. The second bounce makes a fainter bow outside the main one, and its colors are reversed. A bonus bow means an extra bounce!

The Main Bow

Step one: the main rainbow. For the bright, main rainbow, sunlight reflects one time inside each raindrop. That is the bow we see most often, and it has red on the outside.

A Second Bounce

Step two: some light bounces twice. In other drops, the light reflects two times before leaving. Each extra bounce loses some light, so this second bow is a lot dimmer.

Colors Flip

Step three: the colors flip. The second bow forms higher in the sky, and its colors are in reverse, with red on the inside and violet on the outside. Between the two bows, the sky looks darker.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at two bows! The main bow is bright, with red on the outside. Between the bows is a darker band of sky. The outer bow is fainter. And its colors are in the opposite order.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The dark gap between the bows is called Alexander's dark band. The outer bow appears about 8 degrees higher than the main bow. Some very rare rainbows can be triple. Look for rainbows from a safe place, away from lightning and traffic.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Let's hunt for a second bow. Next time you see a bright rainbow, look above it. Is there a fainter bow? Check the color order. Are the colors reversed? If thunder rumbles, go inside right away.

Outro

Double rainbows come from double bounces. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!