Light is very important to us. We see it everyday but are really able to see only a small portion of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The part that we see is called visible light.

The colors of the rainbow are within visible, or white light. An easy way to remember the colors is to remember ROY G. BIV – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These colors make up the spectrum of visible light.

Over years of study, scientists now believe that light is a combination of particles (photons) and waves. The color of light depends on the wave length. Red light has the longest wavelength while violet has the shortest waves.

When light passes through materials, like glass and water, these waves bend or refract. Bending or refraction separates the waves and creates a rainbow so that we see different colors. Raindrops bend and separate light.

Position is important to seeing rainbows. The Sun needs to be shining behind you and, of course, it must be raining for you to see a rainbow.

To find out more, go to
http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sun4spec.htm