Session 1, Page 9: Anatomy of a Rainbow


Since the different colors of light are refracted by different amounts, each color emerges from a raindrop at a different angle. These angles range from 42 degrees for red light through 41 degrees for violet light. When a drop is at the right angle relative to our line of sight for us to see its reflected red light, the other colors of light pass above our line of sight. Likewise, when a drop is at the right angle relative to our line of sight for us to see its reflected violet light, the other colors pass below our line of sight. As illustrated in Figure 11, each color we see in a rainbow has been reflected back to us by raindrops at different angles relative to our line of sight.	Figure 13 The colors we see in a rainbow have been reflected back to us by raindrops at varying angles relative to our line of sight.

	Introduction to Solar Observing	Course Overview	Course Syllabus	Course Schedule
	Introduction to Solar Observing	Index of Course Sessions