Light + Water droplets such as rain Your eyes rainbow...• A drinking glass (with no pattern on it) • A small mirror (that will fit in the glass) • A jug of water • A prism

www.rubytuesdaybooks.com/scienceKS2

©

1

Rainbows Everywhere! Science Talking Point

1

2

3

4

5

When light hits a raindrop, the light refracts, or bends.

Refraction

Refraction

Sunlight

Some of the light reflects off the back of the raindrop. As this light leaves the raindrop it refracts again, splitting and spreading more colour.

The colourful light reflects off the raindrop into our eyes.

When this happens with billions of raindrops at once, we see the colourful light as a rainbow.

As the light bends, it splits and spreads out into the seven colours.

Reflection

How a Rainbow FormsHow a Rainbow Forms

The colours in a rainbow actually come from light. A beam of sunlight or the light from a torch may not look colourful, but it is made up of seven different colours.

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

Light Water droplets such as rain+ Your eyes +

The ingredients that make a rainbow are:

2


©

Have you ever seen rainbows or rainbow colours appear in places you didn’t expect? Maybe you’ve even seen a double rainbow?

Take a look at these rainbows and rainbow colours. Can you describe what is happening in the photos? How do you think the rainbows have formed?

Let’s Talk

3


©

4


©


©

5

Can You Make a Rainbow?

1

2

3

4

5

When light hits a raindrop, the light refracts, or bends.

Refraction

Refraction

Sunlight

Some of the light reflects off the back of the raindrop. As this light leaves the raindrop it refracts again, splitting and spreading more colour.

The colourful light reflects off the raindrop into our eyes.

When this happens with billions of raindrops at once, we see the colourful light as a rainbow.

As the light bends, it splits and spreads out into the seven colours.

Reflection

How a Rainbow FormsHow a Rainbow Forms

Light from a torch or from the Sun may not look colourful but it is actually made up of seven colours. In order to see these colours, a beam of light needs to be refracted (bent).

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

The seven rainbow colours can be made with light and water or glass.

Have a go at planning and carrying out your own investigation to see if you can refract light and make a rainbow.

6


©

Suggested Equipment:• A large white sheet of paper

• A plain wall

• A torch (with a strong, direct light beam)

• A drinking glass (with no pattern on it)

• A small mirror (that will fit in the glass)

• A jug of water

• A prism

Planning Your Experiment:

1. Look carefully at the equipment. How do you think some or all of these objects could be used to create a rainbow?

2. Write down your ideas and design a method for an experiment.

3. Now try making a rainbow following your method.

4. Record your results.

A prism is a glass or clear

plastic 3D object with flat surfaces or sides.

It can be used to refract, or separate light, into its individual

colours.


©

7

My Rainbow Experiment

Equipment:

Method:


©

8

Results:

Conclusion:Was your experiment successful?

What colours did you see?


©

9

If your ideas didn’t work, what could you do differently if you tried it again?

What additional questions do you have about rainbows? How could you investigate this further?

Documents

Light + Water droplets such as rain Your eyes rainbow...• A drinking glass (with no pattern on it) • A small mirror (that will fit in the glass) • A jug of water • A prism