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Questions and Answers
What primarily causes the formation of a rainbow?
In which order does light undergo processes to create a rainbow?
What colors are typically visible in a rainbow?
Under what circumstances is a rainbow most likely to appear?
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Which of the following statements about the formation of a double rainbow is true?
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Study Notes
How Rainbows Form
- Rainbows are formed when sunlight interacts with water droplets in the air.
- Sunlight is composed of different colors, each with a different wavelength.
- When light passes through a water droplet, it is refracted, meaning it bends.
- The different colors of light are refracted at different angles, causing them to separate.
- As the light exits the water droplet, it is reflected internally and then refracted again, causing the colors to be further separated and dispersed.
Rainbow Formation Order
- Refraction of sunlight through a water droplet
- Internal reflection within the droplet
- Second refraction of light as it exits the droplet
Rainbow Colors
- Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet - ROYGBIV
When Rainbows Appear
- Rainbows are most likely to appear after a rain shower when there are still water droplets in the atmosphere.
- The sun must be shining at a low angle in the sky, typically between 40° and 42°.
- The observer must be positioned with their back to the sun and facing the rain.
Double Rainbows
- A double rainbow appears when sunlight is reflected internally twice within the water droplet.
- The colors in the secondary rainbow appear in reverse order (violet on top, red on bottom).
- The secondary rainbow is fainter than the primary rainbow as more light is lost during the second reflection.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the science of rainbows. This quiz covers the primary causes of rainbow formation, the processes light undergoes, the visible colors, and the conditions under which rainbows appear. Additionally, explore concepts related to double rainbows.
