Science Smarts: Seems like an appropriate time to take a look at rainbows
By Patty Rooks on June 1, 2024.
We have been so very fortunate to have some rain the past few weeks. Whenever it rains, the most enjoyable part is searching the sky for the rainbow that follows. This week, I thought I would investigate these rainbows a bit more. Let’s get started! *Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment. Materials – Glass baking dish – Water – White sheet of paper – Tape – Sunny outdoor work space Procedure 1. Carefully fill the baking dish about half way with water. Please this on a sturdy outdoor location in the sunlight. 2. Allow the pan to stick out over the edge of the table about half way. BE CAREFUL you do not knock it off! 3. Directly under the pan on the ground place the sheet of white paper – if it is windy, tape it down. 4. Make observations. What do you see? Are there any visible colours? 5. It is a bit tricky, but adjust the paper on the ground until you can see a rainbow. 6. Make some observations. What colours are there in a rainbow? Are the colours in a particular order? What is going on? As you observed, in this experiment you were able to create your own rainbow. What you need to know are the scientific principles that are associated with rainbows: reflection and refraction. Refraction is how light bends when it passes through a material and in this experiment, water. When the sunlight shines through the glass pan, it will bend or refract. All of these different colours have different wavelengths and bend at different angles as they are reflected onto the piece of white paper showing a beautiful rainbow. I hope you are able to appreciate the next rainbow a bit more when you see it after the rain! Patty Rooks, senior scientific consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: 12 826 11th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca. 20-19
