
When the rain stops, clouds disperse, and the sun shows its bright, shining face, sometimes a colorful arc appears in the sky right in front of the sun. This phenomenon is called a rainbow, also known as “Qaus-e-Qazah” or “Dhanak” in Urdu. A rainbow is visible only during the daytime. At night, it cannot be seen because it is entirely formed by sunlight.
Although sunlight appears white to our eyes, it is actually composed of multiple colors mixed together. These individual colors are not visible separately under normal circumstances because they blend into one another.
To understand this process more clearly, you can perform a simple experiment using a prism. A prism is a triangular piece of special glass designed to bend light. Hold the prism toward the sunlight and slowly rotate it. You will notice a spectrum of colors appearing inside the prism.
For a more vivid demonstration, go to a darkened room and open a window just enough to let a thin ray of sunlight in. Place a white sheet of paper on a table and direct the prism in front of the light. Slowly rotate the prism, and you will see a shimmering rainbow appear on the paper. The colors you observe through this method are the same as those in a natural rainbow.
Similarly, in the sky, a rainbow forms when tiny water droplets remain suspended in the air after rainfall. As sunlight passes through these droplets, it bends and separates into different colors, creating the arc that we see. The sequence of colors always follows the same order—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—although the exact brightness can vary depending on the intensity of sunlight and the size of water droplets.
However, this beautiful spectacle lasts only for a short period. As the water droplets eventually fall or evaporate, the sunlight no longer has the medium to bend through. Consequently, the separated colors mix back together, and the rainbow disappears. The fleeting nature of a rainbow adds to its charm, making it a rare and fascinating sight to behold.
For a rainbow to appear, the position of the sun is crucial. The sun must either be near the horizon in the east or near the horizon in the west. This is because the sunlight must strike the water droplets at a particular angle to bend correctly. If the sun is in the east, the rainbow will appear in the western part of the sky. Conversely, if the sun is in the west, the rainbow will form toward the eastern side.
This natural interplay of sunlight and water droplets is what makes rainbows possible. Each rainbow is unique in its brightness and curvature, depending on the location, angle, and atmospheric conditions. Sometimes, if the sun is particularly intense and the water droplets are abundant, a double rainbow may even appear, with a fainter secondary arc showing the colors in reverse order.
In essence, a rainbow is a beautiful demonstration of the physics of light in nature. It occurs when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed through water droplets, separating into its spectrum of colors. This natural prism effect creates the arching colors we admire in the sky after rainfall. Although it lasts for only a brief moment, the rainbow remains one of the most enchanting and universally appreciated wonders of the natural world.
Thus, a rainbow is not just a visual treat but also an example of light interacting with nature in a fascinating scientific process. Its beauty reminds us of the complex and harmonious workings of the world around us, combining meteorology and optics to create a scene that has captivated humans for centuries.
About the Creator
Sudais Zakwan
Sudais Zakwan – Storyteller of Emotions
Sudais Zakwan is a passionate story writer known for crafting emotionally rich and thought-provoking stories that resonate with readers of all ages. With a unique voice and creative flair.




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