Rainbows are captivating displays of color that appear in the sky after rainfall. However, they aren’t tangible objects you can touch. They are optical illusions created by sunlight interacting with water droplets suspended in the air.
When sunlight enters a water droplet, it refracts or bends, separating the light into its different wavelengths, which correspond to the colors of the rainbow. These colors are then reflected off the back of the droplet and refract again as they exit, resulting in the arc of colors we perceive as a rainbow.
The observer’s position relative to the sun and the water droplets is crucial for seeing a rainbow. The sunlight must hit the droplets at a specific angle, typically in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky.
Each person sees a slightly different rainbow due to their unique perspective.
Prompt:
Think of a technology or scientific phenomenon that most people think they understand, but actually has a deeply surprising or unexpected twist. Uncover a hidden truth about it.