Demonstrations

Raindrop and Rainbow

Code Number :	6A46.30
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Good
Principle :	Dispersion of light by atmospheric particles
Area of Study :	Optics
Equipment :	Black Dropcloth, Lucite Raindrop, Laser, Pinhole White Light Source.
Procedure :	Assemble the demo as shown. At about the angle shown the raindrop will have internal reflection so that the laser light or the rainbow will appear on the ceiling above the lights sources. For enhanced colors use a piece of tin foil or Aluminum tape on the side of the raindrop opposite the light source.

References

Archibald W. Hendry, "A Triple Rainbow?" TPT Vol. 41, # 8, Nov. 2003, pg. 461

Mikolaj Sawicki, "Supernumerary Rainbows," TPT, Vol. 38, # 1, p. 19, (Jan. 2000).

Mikolaj Sawicki, Pawel Sawicki, "Supernumerary Rainbows", TPT, Vol. 38, # 1, Jan. 2000, p. 19.

John C. Eliason Jr. "Dispersion in Spherical Water Drops." TPT, Vol. 27, # 4, p. 264, (April 1989).

M. Eugene Rudd, "The Rainbow and the Achromatic Telescope: Two Case Studies," TPT, Vol. 26, # 2, p. 82, (February 1988).

Harold A. Daw, "A 360 Degree Rainbow Demonstration," Am. J. Phys., 58, (6), June 1990, pg. 593

Jearl Walker, "How to Create and Observe a Dozen Rainbows in a Single Drop of Water," The Amateur Scientist, (July, 1977).

Jearl Walker, "Mysteries of Rainbows, Notably Their Rare Supernumerary Arcs", The Amateur Scientist, June 1980.

Chuck Adler, "Somewhere Under the Rainbow", Physics Today, March 2004, p. 15.

Mikolaj "Mik" Sawicki, "Somewhere Under the Rainbow", Physics Today, March 2004, p. 16.

E. Blaise Saccocio, "Inteference in a Double Rainbow," Physics Today, Nov. 2003, pg. 10.

Dick Berg, "Glass Bead Rainbows," PIRA News, Vol. 9, No 2, pp. 14.

H.J. Press, "Colored Hoop," Giant Book of Science Experiments, pp. 223.

"Laser Quest," Metrologic Instruments Inc., 1986.

Readers Digest, "Light Shows in the Sky," Facts and Fallacies, pp. 28-29.

Ron Hipschman, "The Colors of Light," Exploratorium Cookbook III.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille