Demonstrations

Rainbow - Water

Code Number :	6A46.10
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 & Electromagnetic Radiation
Area of Study :	Electricity & Magnetism
Equipment :	Beaker with mirror backing, 35 mm slide projector, Slit slide, Overhead Projector, Clear Glass or Plastic Cup, Water, Mask with 4in Hole.
Procedure :	Place the slit slide into the 35 mm projector and direct the light towards one end of the beaker filled with water. Once focused correctly a fair rainbow should be produced. The reds and oranges will be really apparent but the blues and greens are only produced if the apparatus is in proper alignment. NOTE: The intensity of the spectrum can be greatly increased by attaching some type of mirror backing to the back side of the beaker. A circular rainbow can be produced on the overhead projector. Place the mask with 4 inch hole on the projector. Then place the clear glass cup in the hole and fill to about 1/8 inch from the top with water. Use a piece of cardboard to block the exit beam from the lens system. When the overhead is turned on a circular rainbow should appear on the ceiling. A rainbow from a drop can be simulated by filling a round flask with water. Place a large cardboard mask with a hole in the center in the middle of the table. Place the flask at the same height as the hole and on one side of the mask. Place the filmstrip projector on the other side of the mask, pointing through the hole and at the flask. Turn on the projector, and the rainbow should appear on the same side of the mask as the raindrop. A secondary bow can be seen if you look closely. The glass crystal ball may be substituted for the flask of water. You will not see a secondary bow.

References

Paul Hewitt, "Hewitt's Response", TPT, Vol. 44, # 6, p. 330, Sept. 2006.

Martin Lieberherr, "More Figuring Rainbows", TPT, Vol. 44, # 6, p. 330, Sept. 2006.

Roger H. Stuewer, "Figuring Rainbows", TPT, Vol. 44, # 6, p. 330, Sept. 2006.

Photo of the Month, "Fire Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 44, # 6, p. 391, Sept. 2006.

"Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 44, # 5, May 2006, p. 309.

Archibald W. Hendry, "A Triple Rainbow?" TPT, Vol. 41, # 8, Nov. 2003, p. 460.

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

"Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 36, # 3, Mar. 1998, p. 162.

Edward Pascuzzi, "The Glorious Glory", TPT, Vol. 36, # 3, Mar. 1998, p. 164.

Albert A. Bartlett, "One in a Million", TPT, Vol. 34, # 4, Apr. 1996, p. 216.

Paul Chagnon, "Optics for People Stuck in Traffic: License Plates", TPT, Vol. 33, # 2, Feb. 1995, p. 112.

Paul G. Hewitt, "On Teaching Why a Rainbow Is Bowshaped", TPT, Vol. 28, # 7, Oct. 1990, p. 509.

Donald Olson, Chris Brozovich, Jacob Carr, Heather Hatton, George Miles, Jr., and Greg Zwicke, "Monte Carlo Computer Simulation of a Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 28, # 4, Apr. 1990, p. 226.

A. Tan, Tom King, "Solar Zenith and Local Time from a Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 28, # 3, March 1990, p. 224.

R. D. Russell, "A Rainbow for the Classroom," TPT, Vol. 27, # 4, p. 262, (April 1989).

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).

"The Colors In a Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. Centerfold Section.

Fred B. Royalty, "Making Rainbows in the Classroom", TPT, Vol. 22, # 8, Nov. 1984, p. 523.

R.W. Robinett, "Homemade Rainbows: A Backyard Experiment", TPT, Vol. 21, # 6, Sept. 1983, p. 388.

Helene F. Perry, "Making Rainbows with a Garden Hose", TPT, Vol. 13, # 4, Apr. 1975, p. 197.

Robert J. Whitaker, "Physics of the Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 12, # 4, April 1974, p. 283.

William T. Kabisch, "Seeing an Invisible Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 10, # 3, March 1972, p. 156.

"The Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 3, # 4, April. 1965, p. 186.

"The Rainbow", TPT, Vol. 3, # 5, May 1965, p. 233.

Harold A. Daw, "A 360 Degree Rainbow Demonstration," AJP, 58, (6), June 1990, p. 593.

John Harsch, Jearl D. Walker, "Double Rainbow and Dark Band in Searchlight Beam", AJP, Vol. 43, # 5, May 1975, p. 453.

Oj-10: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

O-275: "Photocube & Plastic Cup," DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.

O-280: "Giant Rainbow with Flask," DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.

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

Robert Ehrlich, "Rainbow Formation," Turning the World Inside Out, p. 183-184.

Craig F. Bohren, "An Indoor Rainbow," Clouds in a Glass of Beer, p. 174.

Janice VanCleave, "Water Prism," Physics for Every Kid - 101 Easy Experiments in Motion, Heat, Light, Machines, and Sound, p. 188-189.

"209: Colored Hoop," Giant Book of Science Experiments, p. 223.

M. Minneart, "Nature of Light and Colour in The Open Air" #122. Descartes' Theory of the Rainbow. pp. 174-176

T. D. Rossing, C. J. Chiaverina, "# 3, Polarized Rainbow Light", Light Science, Physics and Visual Arts, p. 169.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille