Physics of Rainbows

Imagine a sky full of dark fluffy clouds. The air feels wet and sticky, and rain drops begin to fall. Soon the drops become a sheet of rain and this makes you sad because your outdoor fun is over. But, just as you turn your back to go inside, you feel the sun break through the clouds and warm your back. A smile fills your face because you realize that rain plus sun equals a rainbow. You turn around to see a glorious rainbow in the sky. As you gaze, questions begin to pop into your head. What are rainbows? Who are some scientists that studied them? What makes the colors? Why is there a double bow?

So what are rainbows? It might be easier to start with what they aren't by clarifying some common myths about them.

* "There is an end to the rainbow." -- This is not true. A rainbow is relative to the observers position. Because of this, as an observer moves, so does the rainbow. This means that the "end" moves as well, and can never be found. Also once the sun has disappeared or the observer turns to face the sun, the rainbow disappears.

* "There is a pot of gold waiting for me at the end." -- For the resaons stated above, there is no end. Because there is no end, well...there is no gold. Sorry!

* "Rainbows are real physical tangible things."-- Rainbows are optical illusions. They are something that a person can see, but are not something that a person can really touch.

If Rainbows aren't real...and there is so end to them...and therefor no gold....so what is a rainbow if it's not a magical gold giving wonder?

* According to Websters Dictionary "A rainbow is an arc containing the colors of the spectrum formed in the sky by the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light in rain or fog."

* Rainbows are an optical illusion. -- As stated before, they are an illusion and are dependent on the observers point of view. When it starts to rain and an observer has his back to the sun, refraction, reflection, and dispersion occurs and a rainbow is most likely to be seen.