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The Theory On Rainbow Formation And The Mechanics Of Them Have Been Studied Since Ancient Times

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Rainbows and the mechanics of them have been studied since ancient times. Greek philosophers had some understanding of the role of refraction, scientists in the 13th century produced theories on rainbow formation, and in the 17th century, Rene Descartes sketched out the conditions required to observe a rainbow (Douma).
There are two key aspects that affect a rainbow, and these include the altitude of the sun and the size of the raindrops. The colors of the rainbow are because of two basic facts:
• Sunlight is made up of the whole range of colors that the eye can detect. The range of sunlight colors, when combined, looks white to the eye. This property of sunlight was first demonstrated by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666.
Light of different colors is refracted by different amounts when it passes from one medium (air, for example) into another (water or glass, for example) (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research).
Determining whether or not the wavelengths will go through the raindrops or reflect depends on the angle that the light falls on the backside of the raindrop. Each rain droplet has a function in the formation of the rainbow. Sunlight enters the rain droplet at a specific angle and the rain droplet separates the white light into many different colors. This angle is a fixed measurement between your eye and the sun. What color that is refracted is dependent on the critical angle, the angle the sunlight strikes the back of the rain droplet (Mahlen). Red

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