How Rainbows Form
A rainbow is one of the most beautiful things in nature. It appears in the sky when it rains and the sun shines at the same time. When sunlight passes through tiny drops of water in the air, something amazing happens. The light slows down and bends inside each drop. Then it separates into different colours — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. This process is called refraction. You can only see a rainbow if the sun is behind you and the rain is in front of you.
In the past, people did not understand rainbows, so they made up stories about them. Some cultures believed that a rainbow was a bridge between the earth and the sky. Today, scientists can explain how rainbows work very clearly. In the future, you will probably see many more rainbows. Next time you see one, remember that you are watching light and water working together to create something wonderful.
