Why dont we get loads of rainbows??

Question

In science we're doing about light and how when it refracts in a prism, you see the colour spectrum. When it rains and is sunny, the raindrops act like tiny prisms, which show a colour spectrum which we call 'A Rainbow.'

Our homework was to find out why we dont get lots of rainbows because there are lots of raindrops,

If anyone knows the answer, I'd be very grateful,

Thankyou.

http://climate.met.psu.edu/data/frost/images/rainbow.jpg

Answer 1

u did explain how they form but always look at the darker part of the sky, not the lighter part

Answer 2

Because theres not alot of sunlight?

Answer 3

You have to be at exactly the right angle to see a rainbow because the raindrops only act as prisms if you look at them from the right angle.

See this picture - http://physics.uwstout.edu/WX/u15/U15_05...

In order to see a rainbow, the sun has to be behind your head and reflecting off the raindrops at an angle between 40 and 42 degrees.

You've probably never noticed before but you will now, anytime you see a rainbow, the middle of the rainbow is EXACTLY opposite from the sun in the sky.  We call this spot the antisolar point.  Then the bow itself forms a circle about 40 degrees around the antisolar point.  The rainbow is actually a complete circle, but normally half of it is below the horizon and we can't see it.

Answer 4

I would say that it has to do with the fact that you have to have sunlight shining on the raindrops, and mostly when it rains there is no sun to do this.

When the sun is shining and it is raining, you will see a rainbow as long as you are looking at the rain from the right direction. I can't remember what the angle (range) is - long time ago when I was at school :-)

Think of garden sprinklers and things - when the sun is shining there is always a rainbow in the drops, as long as the direction you are looking from is correct.

Answer 5

bcuz you need very specific conditions for rainbows

it must be raining in one part of teh sky, teh sun must be out in another, and teh sun cant be too high in teh sky.