Is it true that the shape is semi-circle?
rainbow illustration (unsplash.com/Jorge Fernández Salas)
Why is a rainbow in the shape of a half circle? is a question that often pops up in my head. The rainbow always looks semi-circle with seven beautiful colors that blend together.
Usually, rainbows appear after the rain subsides, and then the sun shines brightly from behind the clouds. This process causes the refraction of light so that a rainbow is formed.
The rainbow shape is very eye-catching. If it is a semicircle, then where does the rainbow end? However, is a rainbow really a semicircle?
Don’t think we’ve been wrong all this time. So, instead of wondering without an answer, see the explanation below, come on!
Also read: Why We Never See Black and White Colors in the Rainbow
1. The process of the occurrence of a rainbow with seven colors
Why the rainbow is in the shape of a semicircle was once a question asked by someone on the website Physics Van, The Grainger College of Engineering. The semicircular shape of the rainbow is related to the process of the rainbow itself.
The two factors that cause rainbows are water droplets and sunlight. Hence, raindrops followed by the appearance of sunlight will create a colorful rainbow.
Reported Van Physics, each drop of water can act as a prism that can refract light. The way it works is quite simple, that is, sunlight hitting raindrops will be bent, reflected, and then deflected. The end result, the sun’s white light into the seven colors of the rainbow, such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple (mejikuhibiniu).
Also Read: Like a Rainbow, These are the 7 Most Colorful Animals in the World!
