RAINBOWS
by
Ava Nolan
Rainbow Facts
Rainbows are multi-coloured arcs that
form in the sky
A rainbow arch is a 42 degree angle
starting opposite the sun
A rainbow is not an object, it cannot be
felt or touched
Rainbow Facts
A rainbow is a full circle of light.
A rainbow occurs when it is raining in
one part of the sky and sunny in another.
Rainbows can be seen not just in rain but
also mist and fog whenever there are
water drops in the air and light shining
from behind at the right angle
Circle of Light
Rainbow shape
Rainbows are an arc shape because of
the bending of and dispersion of light
through millions of water droplets.
Refraction
As the light travels through the water
drop and disperses, it also does
something called refraction.
Refraction is what happens to the light
when it hits the water drop, it changes
speed and bends.
Light Refraction
Colours of the Rainbow
Sir Issac Newton identified the 7 colours
of the spectrum that make up white light.
All of which are present in a rainbow in
the order
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
red
orange
yellow
green
blue
indigo
violet
Colours of the Rainbow
The name ROY G BIV is a good way to
remember these colours and their order.
Or
Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain
White Light
Sunlight is made up of the colours of the
rainbow
White light is when the colours are all
mixed together
When sunlight travels through the air in
the same direction we see white light
White Light
When the sunlight enters through a
raindrop the colours separate causing us
to see a rainbow (dispersion)
Each raindrop makes its own rainbow but
it takes millions of raindrops for us to
see a rainbow.
Light dispersion
Dispersed light
White light
Prism (or raindrop)
Rainbow Experiment
What you'll need
• A glass of water
(about three quarters full)
• White paper
• A sunny day
Instructions:
• Take the glass of water and paper to a part of
the room with sunlight.
• Hold the glass of water above the paper and
watch as sunlight passes through the glass
of water, refracts (bends) and forms a
rainbow of colours on your sheet of paper.
• Try holding the glass of water at different
heights and angles to see if it has a different
effect.
Thanks for watching