Is rainbow a prismatic spectrum or grating spectrum ?

Thread starter mkbh_10
Start date Mar 12, 2008
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Grating Rainbow Spectrum

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A rainbow is primarily considered a prismatic spectrum rather than a grating spectrum. This is due to the process of refraction, where light bends as it enters and exits water droplets. The deviation order of colors in a rainbow, with violet deviating the least and red the most, aligns with prismatic behavior. The light source for a rainbow is the sun, which is effectively at infinity, and the resulting image also appears at infinity. Overall, the formation of a rainbow is fundamentally linked to the principles of refraction.

Mar 12, 2008

mkbh_10

Is rainbow a prismatic spectrum or grating spectrum ?

I think it is a grating spectrum as

Deviation Order(violet least and red most) is same as that of grating
Source is at infinity (sun)
Image is at infinity

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Mar 12, 2008

NoTime

Science Advisor

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Try this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow

Mar 12, 2008

pam

A rainbow is not a grating spectrum.
It is caused by refraction as the light passes in and then back out of each drop of water.

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