Why do the colors of a rainbow always appear in the same order? Is there room for variation in shade or bandwidth?
The colors of light are actually different frequencies of light, and our eyes interpret them as colors. When light hits a rain drop, each frequency bends a little differently than other frequencies. A rainbow is caused when light enters a raindrop, bounces off of the back of the drop, and emerges the same side it came in, but at a little bit of an angle. That is why rainbows are round. Since the different frequencies of light always change direction an exact amount according to their frequency, and the frequency determines color, rainbows are very consistant in their appearance. There are secondary rainbows that have their colors reversed. They can sometimes be seen on the outside of normal rainbows. The reversal of the colors is caused by the light refliecting off of 2 inner sides of the rain drop before exiting. The second reflection causes the reversal. The link below gives a good explanation. Sources: http://scie
