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What is a Rainbow?

A rainbow is a beautiful band of colors that appears in the sky.

When Does a Rainbow Happen?

A rainbow pops up when two special things happen:

  • It rains: Rainy days can make the sky look gray and wet.
  • The sun shines: If the sun comes out while it is still raining, something magical happens!

How Does a Rainbow Form?

When the sunlight shines through the drops of rain, the light gets bent and split into many colors. Here’s how:

  1. The sun shines its bright light.
  2. The raindrops act like tiny prisms (things that bend light).
  3. This bending splits the white light into a rainbow!

What Are the Colors of the Rainbow?

A rainbow has seven colors:

  1. Red
  2. Orange
  3. Yellow
  4. Green
  5. Blue
  6. Indigo
  7. Violet

Fun Fact!

You can see a rainbow more easily if you stand with your back to the sun while looking at the rain. Try to spot one next time it rains and the sun comes out!


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