• Question: Why do rainbows appear to be in an arc?

    Asked by Magnum to Ashley, Bernard, Carsten, MariaMagdalena, Monique on 19 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Monique Henson

      Monique Henson answered on 19 Nov 2015:

      This is a great question – I’d never really stopped to think about it. I figured it must be something to do with the way light bends as it passes through water droplets. It turns out I was along the right lines. This page gives a great explanation of why they look like an arc. Hope that helps!

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