• Question: If light travels in straight lines why are rainbows curved

    Asked by 363astg44 to Andres, Catherine, Darren, Ellie on 15 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Andres Olivares del Campo

      Andres Olivares del Campo answered on 15 Nov 2016:


      Oh this is a great question!!

      Let me first explain how the rainbows are formed:

      This happens when light goes through the water drops in the atmosphere.

      Now, you are completely right, light travels in a straight light, but when it changes medium from air to water (as it happens when the rainbow is formed) the trajectory of light is bent! What is more fascinating is that, each particular colour (which corresponds to different frequencies or wavelengths of light), bends by a precise amount! In order to see them, you would need to be at a particular angle in relation to the sun, and you will see the different colours coming from different positions in the sky, as they are all bent differently. This is why you see different layers of colours, all with a different curvature!

    • Photo: Darren Rhodes

      Darren Rhodes answered on 18 Nov 2016:


      Have to echo what Andres answered below – great question!

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