Rainbow colors

  • Rainbows are formed when sunlight is refracted as it passes through water droplets in the atmosphere.
  • The colors of the rainbow, in order, are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
  • They occur mainly after rain when humidity is high and the sun is visible.
  • Double rainbows are rare and appear when light makes two internal reflections in water droplets.

Rainbow colors

There is nothing more beautiful than getting up in the morning and seeing the arco iris, truth? This phenomenon is one of the most interesting, especially considering that it only occurs on Venus and here, on planet Earth.

How is it formed? Which are the Rainbow colors and in what order do they appear? From this and more We are going to talk here, in this special, about one of the meteorological phenomena that has most captivated and still captivates humanity today.

The human eye, capable of seeing amazing phenomena

Visible light spectrum

To understand what, how it is formed and the colors of the rainbow that are seen, I would not like to start the article without first telling you a little how our eyes see. In this way, it will be easier for you to understand it and, surely, the next time you see one again, you will enjoy it much more.

Believe it or not, the human eye is one of nature's finest works (yes, even if you have to wear contact lenses). Our eyes are very sensitive to light (which, by the way, is white, meaning it's composed of the colors red, green, and blue), but what appears to be one color is actually another. Why? Because they absorb a part of the light that illuminates the object, and reflect another smaller part; In other words, if we see a white object, what we really see are the basic colors of the spectrum mixed, on the other hand, if the object is black, it is because it absorbs all the electromagnetic radiation of the visible spectrum.

And what is the visible spectrum? It is not more than an electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye is capable of perceiving. This radiation is known as visible light, and it is the light we can see or distinguish. A typical healthy eye will be able to respond to wavelengths of 390 to 750 nm. Also, if you're interested in learning more about how light is formed, I encourage you to check out the article on what is light.

what is the rainbow?

This beautiful phenomenon occurs when the sun's rays pass through the small particles of water that are suspended in the atmosphere., thus creating an arc of colors in the sky. When a ray is intercepted by a drop of water, it decomposes it into the colors of the visible spectrum, and at the same time, it deflects it; In other words, the ray of sunlight is refracted both when it enters the drop and when it leaves. For this reason, the beam again travels the same path of arrival. In addition, part of the light refracted as it enters the drop is reflected back into it, and is refracted again when it leaves.

Each drop looks one color, so the ones you see are grouped together to create one of nature's most beautiful spectacles. If you want to learn more about how these colors are formed, you can read the article on the mystery behind the colors in iridescent clouds. You can also learn about optical refraction, which is essential in the formation of the rainbow.

What are the colors of the rainbow?

The Rainbow colors there are seven, and the first color of the rainbow is red. TOthey appear in this order:

  • RED
  • Orange
  • Yellow
  • Green. Green gives way to the so-called cold colors.
  • BLUE
  • Indigo
  • Violeta

When it occurs?

Rainbows They occur on days when it rains (usually it is usually slightly cloudy), or when the atmospheric humidity is very highIn both cases, the sun is visible in the sky, and it will always be behind us. For more information, you can consult the inverted rainbow, an interesting phenomenon related to the formation of rainbows.

Can there be double rainbows?

Rainbow colors

Double rainbows are not very common, but they can be seen from time to time. They are formed from the sun's ray that enters the lower half of the drop and then be returned after giving two internal bounces. In doing so, the rays cross and exit the drop in reverse order, giving rise to the 7 colors of the rainbow, but inverted. This second one looks weaker than the first, but it will look better than the third if instead of two internal pots there are three.

The space that is seen between arches is called »Alejandro's Dark Zone» and, if you want to know more about double rainbows, you can visit the article about the double Rainbow. I also recommend you read about the surprising phenomenon of clouds of fire which are a visual spectacle.

Curiosities about the rainbow

Rainbow seen from the sea

This phenomenon has been happening for millions and millions of years, but the reality is that until three centuries ago no one had tried to give him a scientific explanation. Until then, it had been considered a gift that God gave to human beings after the Universal Flood (according to the Old Testament), it was also seen as a necklace that would remind Gilgamesh of the flood (according to "The Epic of Gilgamesh"), and for the Greeks she was a messenger goddess between heaven and earth called Iris.

More recently, in 1611, Antoinius de Demini put forward his theory, which was later refined by René Descartes. But it was not they who exposed the official theory of the formation of the rainbow, but Isaac Newton, who also studied how light can be divided into different colors and whose work is fundamental. This great scientist was able to show with the help of a prism that white light from the sun contains the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The colors of the rainbow. If you are curious about how light can display different colors, I encourage you to read about the Newton's prism.

Have you ever seen a double rainbow? Do you already know what the colors of the rainbow are?

how pileus clouds form
Related article:
Pileus clouds: characteristics, formation, and their climatic impact

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     rohanliz said

    ! how fine

     Beatrice Bermudez said

    How fine it is worth knowing more than a beautiful rainbow that reflects wonderful colors such as violet and blue or ring ... ..as it is produced through a drop solving with a ray

     Yaqob Mizrahim Zarza. said

    And I study hermeneutics, and the subject of colors is amazing to me, a natural phenomenon of the sun with raindrops and its scientific explanation. thanks.

     Yaqob Mizrahim Zarza. said

    it is interesting to know in a scientific way, the pigmentation of the colors of the rainbow.