Rainbows & Sundogs

The images included are of double rainbows and sundogs. These occur due to the refraction of sunlight due to water in the air. Double rainbows occur due to a second reflection within a raindrop.

• How do rainbows form? How do sundogs form?

• What causes there to be a double rainbow? Why are the colors opposite a normal rainbow?
• Why are the colors of the rainbow in a specific order?

Students could:

• Study how different materials affect the bending of light.
• Investigate with different materials and different light sources (colored lasers vs. flashlights). 

• PhET Simulations | Bending Light: Online simulation where students can manipulate different variables to see how material types affect the refraction of light. Different measurements can be taken (angle, intensity, speed) so this would be great for investigations. Some materials are shared on this website from other educators and can be edited for your classroom.
• ORISE | Rainbow Science Lab: This is a lesson plan focused on the geometry of rainbow production.
• SNS | Why Rainbows Can Lose Some Hues: Can be used for an extension or for after the unit. This article talks about the phenomena of rainbows and when they don’t have all of their colors. 
• Radiation Safety Information Computation Center | Light and Color Activities: Five activities about light and color. The Bend a Stick and Chasing Rainbows support this phenomena. The other activities could support related standards.  
• Teaching Engineering | Stations of Light: Four stations focused on properties of light. These are focused on refraction and reflection in particular. Has an engineering focus and could be combined with engineering standards. 
• Teaching Engineering | Exploring Light : Absorb, Reflect, Transmit, & Refract: Stations activity where students can explore properties of light such as absorption, reflection, transmission, and refraction. Has an engineering focus and could be combined with engineering standards.