answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The molecules in the water refracts visible light like a prism and seperates light into the different wavelengths and thus colors creating the rainbow.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

1mo ago

When light enters a raindrop, it is refracted, then reflects off the inside surface of the drop, and is refracted again as it exits. This process separates the light into its constituent colors, creating a spectrum of colors that we perceive as a rainbow.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How does an ordinary rainbow occur from a light ray hitting a drop of water?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Physics

Why does a rainbow occur?

Rainbows occur when sunlight is refracted, or bent, and then reflected off water droplets in the air. The different colors of the rainbow are caused by the different wavelengths of light being separated and dispersed as they pass through the water droplets.


Why do you see different colours in a rainbow?

A rainbow forms when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by water droplets in the air, like rain. Each color in the spectrum of a rainbow has a unique wavelength, causing them to bend at different angles and creating the colorful pattern we see.


Why does dispersion occur in physics?

Dispersion occurs in physics because different wavelengths of light travel at different speeds in a medium. This leads to the separation of light into its component colors, as seen in a rainbow. Dispersion is essential in phenomena like chromatic aberration and in fiber optics for signal transmission.


Why do you sometimes see two shadows of the same object?

You might see two shadows of the same object when there are multiple light sources casting light in different directions, creating more than one shadow. This can occur indoors with artificial lighting or outdoors when sunlight is not directly overhead. Additionally, the angle and intensity of the light sources can affect the appearance of multiple shadows.


Name the 3 possible processes that can occur when light interacts with matter?

Absorption, transmission, and reflection are the three possible processes that can occur when light interacts with matter. Absorption involves light being taken in by the object, transmission involves light passing through the object, and reflection involves light bouncing off the object.

Related questions

Why does a rainbow occur?

Rainbows occur when sunlight is refracted, or bent, and then reflected off water droplets in the air. The different colors of the rainbow are caused by the different wavelengths of light being separated and dispersed as they pass through the water droplets.


Is there a word for light refraction?

Yes, the word for light refraction is simply "refraction." Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through different mediums, such as air and glass, causing a change in its direction.


Can a rainbow make its own light?

No, a rainbow does not produce its own light. It is created when sunlight is refracted, or bent, and dispersed in water droplets in the atmosphere, causing the different colors of the spectrum to be visible.


When does a rainbow occur?

A rainbow occurs when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by water droplets in the atmosphere, typically after a rain shower. The sunlight enters the water droplets, gets reflected inside them, and exits as different colors due to dispersion, creating the rainbow.


How does a rainbow happen on a cloudy day?

A rainbow can still occur on a cloudy day when the sunlight breaks through the clouds and refracts within raindrops in the sky, creating the spectrum of colors. The larger raindrops in a cloud can produce more vibrant rainbows.


What can cause all the colors of visible light to be seen in a rainbow?

Rainbows occur when sunlight is refracted, or bent, by water droplets in the atmosphere, resulting in the separation of white sunlight into its component colors. Each color corresponds to a specific wavelength of light, causing them to appear separately in a rainbow due to their different degrees of refraction.


How do two rainbows occur?

Two rainbows can occur when sunlight is both refracted and reflected within raindrops after a rain shower. The primary rainbow is created by one internal reflection within the raindrop, while the secondary rainbow is created by two internal reflections. The secondary rainbow appears higher in the sky and has its colors inverted compared to the primary rainbow.


Is their any torando hitting Florida?

Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world.


How does a rainbow occur?

A rainbow is possible whenever the sun is in a clear patch of sky and at the same time, rain is falling in the opposite direction from you.


What will occur when there is no injury to the muscle tendon in the front of the shin?

If there is no injury then there is no reason to think anything out of the ordinary will occur


Can an airplane fly through a rainbow?

Yes, an airplane can fly through a rainbow as rainbows occur when sunlight is refracted and reflected by water droplets, creating a colorful arc in the sky. However, pilots typically avoid flying through rainbows as it may not be safe due to the presence of rain or turbulence in the area.


Does a rainbow go around the earth?

No, a rainbow is a circular arc of colors that occur when sunlight is refracted and reflected in raindrops in the atmosphere. It appears as a semicircle because the ground obstructs the bottom half.