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In this seasonal article, Kenlee talks about the science behind rainbows and the myths that are associated with them.
the sky's canvas
the sky's canvas
By: Kenlee Rapport
By: Kenlee Rapport
Rainbows are watercolor arcs that appear in the sky after it rains, striking awe in those who see them. This transcendent event has been told through generations of myths and legends. In fact, rainbows have their own personal secret. A human trying to find the end of a rainbow, hoping for a nonexistent leprechaun's pot of gold, ties into the fact that rainbows do not have an end.
A rainbow takes form from the refraction and reflection of light, which can be given from the sun. Refraction is when a wave changes direction and reflection is when light traveling through a material bounces off of a different material. The light passes through these tiny triangle prisms and, as specified by the Canon Camera website, “the water droplets in the atmosphere act as prisms, though the traces of light are very complex.” This is where the well-known seven colors come in. When the sunlight reflects off of a raindrop, the many wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum get separated into colors.
Image of rainbow, taken by Kenlee Rapport
But psst... here is the secret. According to National Geographic, “A rainbow is an optical illusion- it does not exist in a specific spot in the sky.” It depends on where the viewer is standing. The sun is usually behind the observer while the rainbow is in front and, depending on where the onlookers are standing, each watcher has a different perspective of the rainbow. Imagine this scenario: two people may stand across a football field above a rainbow and, because of their perspectives, the rainbow would be different for both viewers. A rainbow is a full circle, and we humans on the ground are limited in seeing this whole rainbow. This is why there appears to be an end to a viewer, but it continues as a circle. People in aircrafts can see a full rainbow in a rare instance, due to being above the horizon.
A well-known mythical creature celebrated in March is the leprechaun-- a tiny man who originated from Irish folklore and wears green with a red beard and a madtopper hat. He is a mischievous man that children usually make traps for in elementary school, in an attempt to catch one and his gold coins. A specific characteristic associated with the leprechaun is the notorious pot of gold. As stated by history website History Cooperative, “The myths say that they find gold coins hidden in the ground. They then store them in a pot and hide them at the end of a rainbow.” For this reason, in oral tales, people, especially young children, are astonished when they cannot find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This expectation of becoming wealthy is fantastical because there is no end to a rainbow. It is all built upon myth.
Throughout history, science and fantasy have been partners in creating a lovely spring atmosphere. Through storytelling, rainbows have been rare, yet everyone is granted to see them. So the next time it rains and the sun starts to peek out of the clouds, look outside your window to charm your day and maybe some luck will come your way.
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