Rainbow Facts for Kids
Have you ever looked up in the sky on a sunny day in the middle of a rain shower and seen a colorful arc? You were looking at a rainbow. Rainbows are an arc of beautiful colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. What’s your favorite color? Is it one of the amazing colors of the rainbow? Take a look the next time you are outside and while you wait for a rainbow to appear, read up on all these fun rainbow facts for kids!
What is a Rainbow?
A rainbow is a natural wonder that occurs when sunlight is refracted and dispersed by water droplets in the atmosphere.
How Are Rainbows Formed?
The rainbow formation process can be complicated! Here is an easy explanation of the rainbow formation process. A rainbow forms when the sunlight shines and interacts with water drops in the atmosphere. The white light from the sun is refracted (bent) as it passes through a droplet of water and separates into different colors, which are then reflected off the surface of the water. This usually happens when it rains while the sun shines.
A rainbow is made up of millions of tiny water droplets, which means that every rainbow is unique. No two rainbows are the same! Just like no two humans are the same!
Rainbow Facts for Kids – The Colors of the Rainbow
The colors of a rainbow can be seen in order from red to violet, with red on the outer edge and violet on the inner edge. You can remember the order by saying the name “Roy G. Biv,” which stands for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.
Interesting Rainbow Facts for Kids
Did you know the arc of colors you see when looking at a rainbow is actually all white light? White light contains all the colors of the rainbow and the light bends to display these colors in the multicolor arc you see in the sky.
What is a Full Rainbow?
A rainbow is said to be “full” when it has both the primary and secondary bow visible. The secondary rainbow is a dimmer rainbow than the primary bow and has its colors reversed (the red is on the inside and the violet is on the outside). This is also known as a double rainbow. Have you ever seen a double rainbow? I hear they are pretty cool!
Man-made rainbows can also be seen if you keep your eyes open! Make sure you look out for headlights, searchlights, and fireworks because sometimes they can create rainbows on the ground. Rainbows are truly all around us!
Do Rainbows Bring Good Luck?
Although rainbows are often associated with good luck, rainbows have also been linked to various superstitions and folklore over the years.
In some cultures, it is believed that a rainbow is a bridge that connects Earth to Heaven.
Some people believe that if you see a rainbow, you should make a wish on it for good luck. What would you wish for?
According to legend, if you can walk under a rainbow without getting wet, you will have good luck. Would you ever try walking under a rainbow? Hint: if you want good luck, wait until the storm passes to walk under the rainbow.
It is also said that if you can find the end of a rainbow, you will find a pot of gold. Don’t be fooled, though. This is definitely not an easy task. Have you ever found the end of a rainbow? Where does it end?
Although they are often considered to be a sign of good luck, rainbows can also be associated with sadness and loss. In some cases, they can even be considered to be a warning or omen of bad news.
How Long Does a Rainbow Last?
The average lifespan of a rainbow is about 40 minutes, but they can last for several hours under the right conditions.
Can You See a Rainbow?
Rainbows can be seen in any part of the world, but they are most commonly sighted in tropical and temperate regions. That’s because these climates experience greater amounts of rainfall than other areas of the world.
Rainbows can be observed in the sky during the early morning, late afternoon, or even in the middle of the night, but they are most commonly seen after rainfall. You do not need binoculars or telescopes to see a rainbow – they can be easily seen with the naked eye meaning.
Rainbows can be found in many different shapes and sizes, but they are typically semicircular or U-shaped. Have you ever seen a semi-circle rainbow or were you lucky enough to spot a full-circle rainbow?
Rainbow Facts for Kids – Rainbow Sightings
In 2011, a rare double rainbow was observed over the Irish town of Ballymena.
In 2012, a triple rainbow was spotted in North Yorkshire, England. I bet if you looked hard enough you could find a triple rainbow too. The third rainbow will be even fainter than the first two making it harder to see with the human eye.
In 2013, a quadruple rainbow was photographed in Skåne County, Sweden. Wow! A quadruple rainbow! I’ve never even heard of that!
No matter where you are in the world, you have probably seen a rainbow or at least a picture of one. But I bet you didn’t know all these fun facts about them! Did you know there are different rainbows and that you can see a rainbow at any time?
How about that rainbows are actually all white light that is bent and reflected into a multicolored arc? That is one of the reasons rainbows are so mystical. Rainbows are truly beautiful and we have so much more to learn about them! So keep researching, reading, and keep your eyes open for rainbows in the sky. Good luck!
WANT MORE FUN FACTS FOR KIDS?
Check out over 100 fun facts for kids here and browse all the other topics at the bottom of the post.
