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Why is the rainbow curved? |
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Answer
A rainbow is curved due to angle requirements. Light from the sun that
bounces through a drop of water, comes into your eye, and appears red must
bounce at a specific angle. Join two sticks together at a set angle. Place
one end at a dot to represent the sun. Place the other toward your eye.
The place where the sticks join, where the water drop is, can be rotated
around in a circle. A rainbow is shaped like a circle.
You never see the entire rainbow because of the horizon. When you look at a
rainbow, the Earth gets in the way of most of the circle. The portion you
see is just the top portion. Draw a circle and cover a little more than
half of it. What is left is the shape of a rainbow.
First answer by ID214933650. Last edit by ID214933650. Question popularity: 12 [recommend question]
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