Mochi Isle
Rainbows · Rainforest ValleyScience for kidsHow does a rainbow form?
In short: Sunlight bends as it enters a raindrop, bounces off the back of the drop, and bends again on the way out. Each colour bends by a different amount, so the light spreads into a rainbow. Look with the sun behind you and rain ahead.
How it works
Sunlight looks white, but it's really a mix of colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. When light passes from air into water, it bends, which is called refraction. Each colour bends by a slightly different amount, violet the most and red the least, so the colours spread apart.
Every raindrop works like a tiny prism. Sunlight enters one side, reflects off the back of the drop, and comes out the front split into colours, each heading in a slightly different direction. Millions of drops together paint a coloured arc across the sky.
So here's the trick to spotting one: the sun must be behind you and fairly low, so early morning or late afternoon is best, with rain or mist in front of you. A rainbow is really a full circle. The ground hides the bottom half, but you can sometimes see a whole ring from a plane.
Where to see it in New Zealand
New Zealand weather changes quickly, and sunshine often breaks through between showers. Those are perfect rainbow conditions, so turn your back to the sun and look for one. In many Māori traditions, the rainbow is linked with Uenuku.
Try it together
On a sunny morning or late afternoon, stand with your back to the sun and spray a fine mist in front of you with a garden hose or spray bottle. Move the spray around until a rainbow appears. Never look straight at the sun.
Kids also ask
Why is a rainbow curved?
Only drops at one particular angle from your eye send coloured light to you, and those drops form a circle around the point directly opposite the sun. So rainbows are always round, and everyone sees their own one.
What makes a double rainbow?
Sometimes light reflects twice inside each drop, creating a fainter second bow outside the first. Its colours are reversed: red is on the outside of the main bow but on the inside of the second one.
In the game, “Rainbows” is a nature card on Rainforest Valley.
Your child finds this card by reaching the right place or meeting the right weather on the island, and lights it up by answering the question on the back. Tap the button below and the game shows your child which island it is on and how to find it. Mochi Isle is a browser learning game for ages 5 to 18; the main island and the daily lesson are free.
Find “Rainbows” on the island ↗ All cards from Rainforest Valley