Find out about the colours in white light and how rainbow is formed with this BBC Bitesize Scotland article for First and Second Level CfE.

Jan 9, 2025 · Put simply, a rainbow is caused by interaction between sunlight and atmospheric water. This most commonly means raindrops, but mist and spray can also cause rainbows.

Dec 9, 2025 · A rainbow is caused by the refraction, dispersion, and reflection of sunlight as it passes through raindrops. As light passes through raindrops, it bends at different rates …

The primary rainbow is caused from one reflection inside the water droplet. The secondary rainbow is caused by a second reflection inside the droplet, and this “re-reflected” light exits …

Nov 11, 2024 · A rainbow forms when sunlight passes through raindrops, bending and splitting into its seven colors. These colors are: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

Apr 28, 2020 · Rainbows are one of the most admired meteorological phenomena across the globe, but how are they formed? Rainbows are formed when light from the sun is scattered by …

Sep 23, 2023 · When you hear the word "rainbow," maybe you think about the clouds parting at the end of rainy day, or a Pink Floyd album cover, or a mythical pot of gold. But how are …

A rainbow is created through the refraction and reflection of sunlight in water droplets. When sunlight passes through a raindrop, it slows down and bends (refracts), splitting into its …

We see sunlight as white but it’s actually made up of many colours. A rainbow is made during a process called refraction, where light bends inside a prism (in this case, the spherical raindrops).

In this quick 4-minute explainer, we break down the fascinating science of how rainbows are made — using simple visuals, real-world examples, and a little bit of sunshine.