What Causes a Rainbow? | Light, Physics, Reflection, Refraction ...
Dec 9, 2025 · A rainbow is caused by the refraction, dispersion, and reflection of sunlight as it passes through raindrops. As light passes through raindrops, it bends at different rates causing it to spread …
Rainbow - National Geographic Society
Oct 19, 2023 · A primary rainbow is reflected by the water, and the reflected light produces a reflection rainbow. Reflection rainbows do not mirror the primary rainbow—they often appear to stretch above it.
What Causes a Rainbow? | NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite ...
The primary rainbow is caused from one reflection inside the water droplet. The secondary rainbow is caused by a second reflection inside the droplet, and this “re-reflected” light exits the drop at a …
How Do Rainbows Form? - National Weather Service
The rainbow we normally see is called the primary rainbow and is produced from one internal reflection. The secondary rainbow arises from two internal reflections and the rays exit the drop the second …
How Are Rainbows Formed? The Science Behind the Colors
Sep 23, 2023 · We can usually see rainbows right after a rainstorm on a warm Spring day. These giant colorful arcs stand out against the dark rain clouds. Have you ever wondered what causes this …
Physics Tutorial: Rainbow Formation
Rainbows are not limited to the dispersion of light by raindrops. The splashing of water at the base of a waterfall caused a mist of water in the air that often results in the formation of rainbows. A backyard …
The Science Behind Rainbows: How Light Refraction Creates the Color ...
Nov 13, 2025 · At their core, rainbows form when sunlight interacts with raindrops, bending, reflecting, and separating light into its component colors. This process, grounded in optical physics, illustrates...
What Is a Rainbow? - timeanddate.com
Feb 14, 2025 · How Do Rainbows Form? A rainbow is an optical phenomenon which involves three processes: reflection, dispersion, and refraction. Water droplets can act like little mirrors. When a ray …
How Rainbows Are Made - Center for Science Education
How Rainbows Are Made A rainbow can form when both sunshine and water droplets are in the sky. Sunlight is white light, which is a mixture of all visible colors. As sunlight passes through the water …
What Is a Rainbow? | How Rainbows Form and Why They Show …
Rainbows are caused by sunlight passing through raindrops, which act like tiny prisms. In this article, you’ll learn how rainbows form, why they have different colors, and where you can spot them in the sky.