Physics / Earth
Rainbow
Trace refraction, dispersion and internal reflections through a spherical water drop. Compare primary and secondary rainbow angles and the reversal of colour order.
Try this
Trace dispersion through a water drop. Primary uses one internal reflection, secondary two. Select stationary rays to locate the concentrated rainbow angle.
Equations used in the module
Equations sin i = n(λ) sin r D = pπ + 2i − 2(p+1)r Stationary ray: sin²i = [(p+1)² − n²]/[(p+1)² − 1] n(λμm) ≈ 1.324 + 0.003/λμm²
