Have you ever looked up after a rainy day and spotted a rainbow? It’s like magic in the sky! But did you know there’s real science behind those colorful arcs?

Let’s explore how rainbows form, why they always curve, and what makes their colors so beautiful—all in a fun way that kids will love.

What Is a Rainbow?

A rainbow is a beautiful arc of colors that appears in the sky when sunlight meets water droplets in the air. It’s not painted in the sky—it’s actually made of light and science!

The Magic Recipe: Sun + Rain = Rainbow

Rainbows need three things:

1. Sunlight
2. Rain or mist
3. You—standing at just the right spot!

When sunlight shines through raindrops, something amazing happens:

1. Refraction (Bending Light)

Light enters a raindrop and bends because water is thicker than air.

2. Reflection (Bouncing Light)

The light hits the back of the raindrop and reflects (bounces) back inside the drop.

3. Refraction Again!

As it leaves the drop, it bends again—and separates into colors!

Why Are Rainbows Curved?

Each color comes out of the raindrop at a different angle. When millions of raindrops reflect sunlight together, they form a big, curved arc in the sky.

Fun Fact: You can’t ever find the “end” of a rainbow because it moves with you!

What Are the Colors of a Rainbow?

Rainbows always appear in the same order, called ROY G. BIV:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Indigo
• Violet

Try saying it out loud like a name: Roy G. Biv!

Cool Rainbow Activities to Try

• Spray Bottle Rainbow – On a sunny day, spray mist in the air and look for tiny rainbows.
• CD Rainbow Reflections – Use an old CD to catch light and reflect colors on a wall.
• Make a Prism – Try a glass of water and a flashlight to split light into a rainbow.
• Rainbow Drawing Game – Can your child draw each rainbow color in order?

Conclusion

Rainbows are a perfect mix of nature and science, turning light into color right before our eyes. Next time you see one, you’ll know the magical (and scientific!) journey that sunlight took to create it.

So grab your rain boots, look to the sky after a shower, and chase the colors!

Sources:

• NASA Climate Kids – What Makes a Rainbow?
• National Geographic Kids – Rainbows
• American Meteorological Society – Weather Learning

Photo by Stainless Images on Unsplash