Types of Rainbows
A beautiful streak of colors paints the sky after a fresh shower of rain. It's the rainbow, and its sure gets us mesmerized. Did you know that there are different types of rainbows? Well, we have some interesting facts about them in the article below. Read on...
A beautiful streak of colors paints the sky after a fresh shower of rain. It's the rainbow, and its sure gets us mesmerized. Did you know that there are different types of rainbows? Well, we have some interesting facts about them in the article below. Read on...
Nature's abundant beauty has conquered the different seasons of the
year. Talking about fresh showers in the rainy season, the greenery and
the fresh spring of air make a perfect atmosphere. There is a
spectacular arc of colors that adds to the beauty. With seven vibrant
colors forming a misty line touching the horizon, a rainbow truly rules
all the visual and charming events of nature. We all know about a
rainbow, at least we all know all about the colors in it. How many times
have you wondered about what is it that makes a rainbow, and that it
could have different types? Let us enjoy the rainbow, and this time, not
only by looking at it, but observing and learning about the facts, like
the formation and the different rainbow types.
Let us begin with a quick view of how a rainbow is formed. Now, after a rain shower, there are still many tiny droplets of water in the sky. When sunlight passes through these tiny droplets, it gets refracted or bends in a particular angle. The sunlight or white light is actually made up of a spectrum of colors and has different wavelengths. Each wavelength is associated with a specific color. Each tiny drop of water acts like a prism, where the light gets refracted (bends in a particular angle) and reflects in the droplet of water. After this reflection it gets refracted again and is dispersed in its different wavelengths, that is different colors. This reflection is strong and makes a defined curve of colors that is the rainbow. The rainbow is an excellent work of many tiny water droplets and the sunlight. A rainbow is not really an arc of colors but is a full circle of colors. We get to see only an arc of the rainbow. The distance of the sun from the earth mainly determines the length of the arc. The closer the sun, more part of the circle will be included in the arc. Now let us know on what are the different types of rainbows.
Different Rainbow Types
The charismatic stream of colors is classified in 5 different types. Each has a distinct nature.
Let us begin with a quick view of how a rainbow is formed. Now, after a rain shower, there are still many tiny droplets of water in the sky. When sunlight passes through these tiny droplets, it gets refracted or bends in a particular angle. The sunlight or white light is actually made up of a spectrum of colors and has different wavelengths. Each wavelength is associated with a specific color. Each tiny drop of water acts like a prism, where the light gets refracted (bends in a particular angle) and reflects in the droplet of water. After this reflection it gets refracted again and is dispersed in its different wavelengths, that is different colors. This reflection is strong and makes a defined curve of colors that is the rainbow. The rainbow is an excellent work of many tiny water droplets and the sunlight. A rainbow is not really an arc of colors but is a full circle of colors. We get to see only an arc of the rainbow. The distance of the sun from the earth mainly determines the length of the arc. The closer the sun, more part of the circle will be included in the arc. Now let us know on what are the different types of rainbows.
Different Rainbow Types
The charismatic stream of colors is classified in 5 different types. Each has a distinct nature.
Primary Rainbow
Primary Rainbow
A primary rainbow is the most commonly seen rainbow. In fact, it is the two streaks of red and purple that appear right after a rain shower. More on the primary rainbow tells us that, it forms between 40 to 42 degrees of the anti solar point (an imaginary point opposite to the sun), with a single reflection taking place in the water droplets. If there are smaller droplets only violet may be visible, as the other - reds and greens, tend to disappear due to the mist.
Primary Rainbow
A primary rainbow is the most commonly seen rainbow. In fact, it is the two streaks of red and purple that appear right after a rain shower. More on the primary rainbow tells us that, it forms between 40 to 42 degrees of the anti solar point (an imaginary point opposite to the sun), with a single reflection taking place in the water droplets. If there are smaller droplets only violet may be visible, as the other - reds and greens, tend to disappear due to the mist.
Secondary Rainbow
Secondary Rainbow
A secondary rainbow will typically be outside or next to the primary rainbow. The secondary rainbow will be lighter and diffused as compared with primary rainbow. The reflection of light takes place at 50 to 52 degrees, in side the water droplets. In this case two reflections take place in a water droplet, hence the rays of light get scattered due to two reflections that makes it diffused than the primary rainbow. Interestingly there is a dark band that forms between a primary and a secondary rainbow, it is known as Alexanders Dark Band.
Secondary Rainbow
A secondary rainbow will typically be outside or next to the primary rainbow. The secondary rainbow will be lighter and diffused as compared with primary rainbow. The reflection of light takes place at 50 to 52 degrees, in side the water droplets. In this case two reflections take place in a water droplet, hence the rays of light get scattered due to two reflections that makes it diffused than the primary rainbow. Interestingly there is a dark band that forms between a primary and a secondary rainbow, it is known as Alexanders Dark Band.
Supernumerary Rainbow
Supernumerary Rainbow
A supernumerary rainbow is formed on the inside of the primary rainbow. These will be faint or pastel streaks of color, that will sometimes also form outside the secondary rainbow, but very rarely. A supernumerary rainbow is formed due to the interference of the light rays with each other, that are of different wavelengths, which have a different path of travel after reflection. These rainbows will be visible when the water droplets are extremely small.
Supernumerary Rainbow
A supernumerary rainbow is formed on the inside of the primary rainbow. These will be faint or pastel streaks of color, that will sometimes also form outside the secondary rainbow, but very rarely. A supernumerary rainbow is formed due to the interference of the light rays with each other, that are of different wavelengths, which have a different path of travel after reflection. These rainbows will be visible when the water droplets are extremely small.
Lunar Rainbow
Lunar Rainbow
A lunar rainbow is also known with many names like white rainbow or moon bow. This rainbow is not formed due to sunlight, but is a result of the near full moon light. Here the light from the surface of the moon reflects in tiny droplets that causes the refraction and a stream of colors eventually. However, a moon bow will be very faint, so much so, that the naked eye will not be able to capture it. Without a special device the eyes will only see white arcs in the sky.
Lunar Rainbow
A lunar rainbow is also known with many names like white rainbow or moon bow. This rainbow is not formed due to sunlight, but is a result of the near full moon light. Here the light from the surface of the moon reflects in tiny droplets that causes the refraction and a stream of colors eventually. However, a moon bow will be very faint, so much so, that the naked eye will not be able to capture it. Without a special device the eyes will only see white arcs in the sky.
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