Rainbows appear after rain because they need sunlight and water droplets to show up. When the sun shines through tiny water droplets in the air, it bends the light, splitting it into different colors, like a prism. That’s how we see red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet all lined up beautifully in the sky.
Examples
- Rainbow colors can be seen in mist from a waterfall on a sunny day.
- Children playing outside might see a small arc of colors after a brief shower.
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See also
- Why Do Rainbows Have Different Colors?
- Why Do Rainbows Appear After Storms?
- What is prism?
- How do rainbows form, and why are they always curved?
- Why Do We See Different Colors in Rainbows?