Why does a rainbow stay still while it's raining?

Thread starter cragar
Start date Apr 26, 2011
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Rainbow

AI Thread Summary

A rainbow appears crisp and stationary during rain due to the consistent angle of sunlight relative to the observer, rather than the movement of individual raindrops. The phenomenon is akin to a high-resolution image, where the multitude of raindrops acts collectively to create a stable visual effect. The position of the sun is crucial in determining the visibility and appearance of the rainbow. This explains why, despite heavy rain, the rainbow remains clearly defined. Understanding these principles clarifies the nature of rainbow formation during rainfall.

Apr 26, 2011

cragar

Why does a rainbow look so crisp and stationary if the rain is falling. It seems like it would cut in an out.

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Apr 26, 2011

russ_watters

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There's a lot of rain. Think of it as a lot of megapixels in the image.

Apr 27, 2011

pergradus

whats actually important is the position of the sun relative to you, not the position of individual rain drops.

Apr 27, 2011

cragar

ok that helps guys thanks for the answers.

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