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  1. What Causes a Rainbow? | Light, Physics, Reflection, Refraction ...

    Dec 9, 2025 · A rainbow is caused by the refraction, dispersion, and reflection of sunlight as it passes through raindrops. As light passes through raindrops, it bends at different rates …

  2. What Causes a Rainbow? | NESDIS | National Environmental …

    The primary rainbow is caused from one reflection inside the water droplet. The secondary rainbow is caused by a second reflection inside the droplet, and this “re-reflected” light exits …

  3. Physics Tutorial: Rainbow Formation

    Rainbows are not limited to the dispersion of light by raindrops. The splashing of water at the base of a waterfall caused a mist of water in the air that often results in the formation of rainbows. A …

  4. Rainbow - National Geographic Society

    Oct 19, 2023 · A primary rainbow is reflected by the water, and the reflected light produces a reflection rainbow. Reflection rainbows do not mirror the primary rainbow—they often appear …

  5. How Do Rainbows Form? - National Weather Service

    The rainbow we normally see is called the primary rainbow and is produced from one internal reflection. The secondary rainbow arises from two internal reflections and the rays exit the …

  6. The Science Behind Rainbows: How Light Refraction Creates the …

    Nov 13, 2025 · At their core, rainbows form when sunlight interacts with raindrops, bending, reflecting, and separating light into its component colors. This process, grounded in optical …

  7. What Is a Rainbow? - timeanddate.com

    Feb 14, 2025 · How Do Rainbows Form? A rainbow is an optical phenomenon which involves three processes: reflection, dispersion, and refraction. Water droplets can act like little mirrors. …

  8. How Are Rainbows Formed? The Science Behind the Colors

    Sep 23, 2023 · We can usually see rainbows right after a rainstorm on a warm Spring day. These giant colorful arcs stand out against the dark rain clouds. Have you ever wondered what …

  9. Rainbow Causes, Colors, and Weather - ThoughtCo

    Apr 30, 2025 · Rainbows happen when sunlight and raindrops meet, making beautiful colors in the sky. The colors in a rainbow always show in the same order, like red, orange, yellow, and …

  10. How Rainbows Are Made - Center for Science Education

    How Rainbows Are Made A rainbow can form when both sunshine and water droplets are in the sky. Sunlight is white light, which is a mixture of all visible colors. As sunlight passes through …