Curiosity corner for kids: What makes a rainbow?

One of the most beautiful sights we can see in the sky is the appearance of a rainbow. Generally, kids are very interested in knowing the formation of a rainbow. "A Rainbow is not something you can touch or go near. It is actually produced by light, water, and the sun. So, when light passes through small water droplets in the air, it bends, changes into different colors, reflects inside the water droplets, and comes out. So, we can see the beautiful rainbow in the sky. Let’s learn the formation of the rainbow in simple steps."

"What is the composition of Sunlight?"

The color of the sun is white. This is not true. The sun is not white. The sun is made up of many colors. The colors of the sun are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. When the sun shines on water drops in the air after raining, the light of the sun passes through those drops. At this time, the light of the sun splits into different colors. The splitting of light is called "Dispersion of light."

"What happens to light in water drops?"

The light of the sun passes through a small raindrop. When light passes through a raindrop, light bends. The bending of light is called "Refraction." After that, light is reflected in a raindrop. Next, light bends as it comes out of a raindrop. So, light is changed into different colors.

Rain and Sun must be together

A Rainbow is mostly seen when it is raining and when the Sun is shining at the same time. The Sun should always be behind you and rain in front of you in order to see a rainbow. So, a rainbow is mostly seen in the evenings or in the morning when the Sun is low in the sky.

Why is a rainbow curved?

A rainbow is mostly seen in a curved shape due to the reflection of light in millions of round raindrops in the air. All these reflections form a circular shape. We can see only half of a circular shape of a rainbow from the ground level. A person can see a circular rainbow from an airplane.

You can make a rainbow at home

A person can make a small Rainbow at home by using a glass of water and Sunlight or by using a garden hose spray. When light passes through a raindrop of water, a Rainbow is formed. It is a fun science experiment for children.

Disclaimer

This article is part of the Curiosity Corner for kids series and is intended for educational and general knowledge purposes only. The explanation about rainbows and light is simplified so that children can easily understand basic science concepts. This content is meant to encourage curiosity and interest in science and nature, and it should be used as a basic learning resource by parents and teachers.