🌈 Rainbows are curved due to the interaction of light with raindrops. A simple explanation involves three key elements: raindrops, the sun, and the observer.

💡 To understand this, consider a glass sphere as a raindrop. When light from the sun hits the sphere, it reflects and refracts, creating a rainbow effect. The angle of incidence and the refractive index of the medium determine how light bends.

🔍 The maximum scattering angle for red light is about 42 degrees, while for blue light, it approaches 40 degrees. This difference in angles is crucial for the formation of a rainbow.

🌦️ When light reflects off raindrops, it creates a cone of light with white light in the center and colored rings around it. The overlapping colors produce the visible rainbow.

👁️ For an observer to see a specific color, the angle from the sun to the raindrop to the observer's eye must be 42 degrees. This explains why rainbows appear as arches.

🕶️ Sunglasses can make rainbows disappear if they are polarized, as the light from the rainbow is also polarized.

🌈 A double rainbow occurs due to an additional reflection inside the raindrop, creating an inverted color sequence.

🔬 The study of rainbows has even led to significant scientific discoveries, such as the invention of the cloud chamber by CTR Wilson, which earned him a Nobel Prize.

📚 Understanding rainbows is not just about memorizing facts; it's about grasping the underlying principles of light and optics.