RainbowsRainbows

PurposePurpose

• To tell how a rainbow, sundog, and a To tell how a rainbow, sundog, and a double rainbow is created.double rainbow is created.

• To inform how a rainbow is made in To inform how a rainbow is made in the sky.the sky.

• To demonstrate what a rainbow To demonstrate what a rainbow really is made of. (reflection, really is made of. (reflection, refraction, and dispersion)refraction, and dispersion)

MaterialsMaterials

• PrismPrism

• MirrorsMirrors

• FlashlightFlashlight

• Red and Blue Red and Blue laserslasers

• LampLamp

• Wine GlassWine Glass

We also used:We also used:

• SunlightSunlight

• WaterWater

• A wallA wall

• ShadeShade

• A dark room with a A dark room with a window window

ProceduresProcedures

• We tried to make a rainbow with a We tried to make a rainbow with a flashlight’s light through the prism.flashlight’s light through the prism.

• Tried with a red and blue laser.Tried with a red and blue laser.• Tried with a mirror underneath the prism, Tried with a mirror underneath the prism,

and the flashlight.and the flashlight.• Flashed a light through the prism with a Flashed a light through the prism with a

wall behind it, outside.wall behind it, outside.• Went outside and tried with the prism alone Went outside and tried with the prism alone

in the sun.in the sun.• Went outside and tried with a mirror Went outside and tried with a mirror

underneath the prism in the sun.underneath the prism in the sun.

Procedure continuedProcedure continued

• Filled a wine glass with water, placed the Filled a wine glass with water, placed the glass in front of the window, while the sun’s glass in front of the window, while the sun’s rays were going through the glass.rays were going through the glass.

• Placed the prism in front of a lamp with a Placed the prism in front of a lamp with a wall behind the prism, wall behind the prism, insideinside..

• Placed the prism in front of a lamp with a Placed the prism in front of a lamp with a wall behind the prism, wall behind the prism, outsideoutside..

ResultsResults

• Flashlight and prism: Successful, but the Flashlight and prism: Successful, but the rainbow’s colors were weak, and when the rainbow’s colors were weak, and when the flashlight’s light went through the prism, it flashlight’s light went through the prism, it only displayed three of the rainbow’s only displayed three of the rainbow’s colors; red, yellow, and blue.colors; red, yellow, and blue.

• The red and blue laser going through the The red and blue laser going through the prism was not successful.prism was not successful.

• Flashlight and mirror: The same results as Flashlight and mirror: The same results as the first attempt with the flashlight, but the the first attempt with the flashlight, but the rainbow was a little stronger.rainbow was a little stronger.

• Flashlight and wall outside: The same Flashlight and wall outside: The same results as the first and second results, but results as the first and second results, but the rainbow was very clear and bright.the rainbow was very clear and bright.

Results ContinuedResults Continued

• Sunlight: Very successful. The rainbow was Sunlight: Very successful. The rainbow was very bright and clear.very bright and clear.

• Sun and mirror: The same results as the one Sun and mirror: The same results as the one above.above.

• Wineglass and water and sunlight: It was Wineglass and water and sunlight: It was successful; it worked exactly like the prism, successful; it worked exactly like the prism, except that the rainbow appeared on the except that the rainbow appeared on the floor, instead of the ceiling.floor, instead of the ceiling.

Results continuedResults continued

• Lamp and wall inside: Almost successful. Lamp and wall inside: Almost successful. The light was too bright, so we couldn’t see The light was too bright, so we couldn’t see the rainbow clearly.the rainbow clearly.

• Lamp and outside: Same results as the first Lamp and outside: Same results as the first attempt inside, but the rainbow was much attempt inside, but the rainbow was much weaker.weaker.

ConclusionConclusion

• We concluded that working outside We concluded that working outside was much more effective than being was much more effective than being inside. The sun was way more inside. The sun was way more powerful than a teensy flashlight or powerful than a teensy flashlight or lamp.lamp.