How Is a Rainbow Made?

A rainbow is a multicolored arc made by light striking water droplets. The most familiar type rainbow is produced when sunlight strikes raindrops in front of a viewer at a precise angle (42 degrees). ... Light entering a water droplet is refracted. It is then reflected by the back of the droplet.

How is a rainbow formed short answer?

Rainbows are formed when light from the sun is scattered by water droplets (e.g. raindrops or fog) through a process called refraction. ... Once the refracted light enters the raindrop, it is reflected off the back and then refracted again as it exits and travels to our eyes.

Can you touch a rainbow?

In short, you can touch someone else's rainbow, but not your own. A rainbow is light reflecting and refracting off water particles in the air, such as rain or mist. ... However, it is possible to touch the water particles and refracted light (if you agree that you can touch light) of a rainbow that someone else is viewing.