Rainbows and Light — Fun Science
A rainbow is made when sunlight bends through raindrops — each drop acts like a tiny prism splitting light into colours.
Learn
- Sunlight looks white, but it is actually made up of many colours mixed together.
- When light passes through water, it bends. This is called refraction.
- Each colour bends at a slightly different angle, so they spread out into a band: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
- You can only see a rainbow when the Sun is behind you and rain is in front of you.
Try These Questions
- What makes sunlight look white?
Answer: It is many colours mixed together
Hint: Think about what happens when light is split apart. - What do we call it when light bends as it passes through water?
Answer: Refraction
Hint: The word starts with "refr-". - Where does the Sun need to be for you to see a rainbow?
Answer: Behind you
Hint: The light needs to shine past you towards the rain.
Make Your Own Rainbow
- Fill a glass with water and place it on a table near a sunny window.
- Place a piece of white paper on the floor below the glass.
- Adjust the angle of the glass until you see a band of colours on the paper.
- Draw or photograph the colours you see and write down their order.
Safety: Ask an adult to help move the glass if it is heavy. Do not look directly at the Sun.
Challenge Quiz
- What is sunlight really made of?
Answer: Many colours mixed together - What is it called when light bends through water?
Answer: Refraction - Which colour appears at the top of a rainbow?
Answer: Red - What acts like a tiny prism to make a rainbow?
Answer: Raindrops - Where does the Sun need to be for you to see a rainbow?
Answer: Behind you