The Pure Joy of Rainbows

This page was created on a whim, and there is nothing serious here.  It is just pure fun and pure joy!

Rainbows are captivating.  Not only are they beautiful, but they calm our spirit and light our imagination.  Do you know of anyone who can see a rainbow without taking a few moments to enjoy it? I know of no one whose mood is not brightened at the sight of a rainbow.  

It is at the rainbow that poetry and physics meet.  In the study of rainbows, the scientist and the artist both have something meaningful to teach us.

Rainbows are  the majesty and wonder of the natural world brought right into our hearts.  A wonderful starting point for learning.  The science of rainbows can be taught at any level from preschool to college physics (WE won't go there, but if you are interested CLICK HERE or HERE)



The (simple) Science of a Rainbow:

Sunlight is made up of all the colors of the rainbow.  When this light passes through a prism, the light splits apart and we see all the colors (the full color spectrum).  Raindrops act like a prism and separate the sunlight, so we can see all of its colors.

How to Find a Rainbow:

At the end of a rainstorm, just when the sun comes out, look in the part of the sky that is opposite to the sun.  If a rainbow is visible, it will be there.  Because the sun has to shine through raindrops to cast a rainbow, you will have the most success if the sun is low in the sky and the rain is just moving out of your area.

Other Ways to See Rainbows:

• A glass or jar of water placed in a window.
• Crystal beads hung in a window.
• Water sprayed from a garden hose on a sunny day.
• Oil floating on top of a puddle.
• When blowing bubbles, notice that there's a rainbow on the side of each one.
   
• Check out the back of a CD.  The tiny grooves in he CD act as a prism.  Most rainbows require sunlight, but this can be done indoors with artificial light.
• You can purchase PRISM RAINBOW GLASSES.  These work indoors with artificial light.  Most of them have paper frames and are inexpensive (less that $2 each).  These are really fun for kids and adults.  The prisms in the lenses create rainbows from any light source.  Check out Steve Spangler Science to purchase these.
• You can also purchase a "Light Crystal Prism" from various retailers (Amazon.com, Steve Spangler Science etc.) for about $12.  Its is a triangular shaped piece of plastic you can look through and see rainbows from any light source.

        
For more information on rainbows check out these websites:

Dartmouth Science Kids: Rainbows

First School Activities

Greatest Places: Iguazu rainbows

Experience.org: Rainbows

Experience.org: Prisms


What is the Order of the Colors of a Rainbow?
JUST REMEMBER ROY G BIV:

RED
    ORANGE
        YELLOW
            GREEN
                BLUE
                    INDIGO
                        VIOLET

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