The Wonder of a Rainbow

There it was. Glorious. Wondrous. Grand. Royal.

Yesterday afternoon I saw a rainbow. It was just now and it was only the second one this year. There had not even been fragments. I'm always looking out. Always hopeful. And even while at the same time I've been working on these little essays.

It was breathtaking. An arc, fascinating, complete and side to side, all of the colours distinct with the bands clear. It lingered for long. Each colour separate. Rich in hues and nuance. Intense.  Triumphant. Divine. Such a beautiful vision I thought I was going to die and go to Heaven.

Stately. Standing solid as if it was planted.

And then there it was again! Overwhelming! Dazzling! After more than half-an-hour. Wondrous. This one even broader and the colours even brighter. Incredible. Spectacular. Victorious. And again, it lingered.

All of this is quite true. I regard myself as not superstitious but this must have meaning. I have to believe it is a sign.

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Most abundant in nature found in a waterfall's fine spray and similar such as garden sprinklers' tiny water drops. Some more artificial examples are such as in reflections of CDs due to diffraction and in holograms.

As a phenomenon in Nature of course there has to be a scientific explanation.

Visible light consists of a band of electromagnetic radiation in the spectrum of colours. Light's path gets bent when a “ray” passes through at an angle between different transparent media, such as from air into water, or from water or glass into air. Shorter wavelengths bend more, from long, red, up to shorter, purple where it is most bent. The effect of internal reflection is closely related.

In this way scattered myriads rain droplets together, individually by refraction and reflection explains the geometry and a rainbow occurrence. So that white light (sunlight) is reflected and separated into its components.

A glass prism can be used to very convincingly demonstrate the effect and well known separation of colours in the spectrum. One can consult a reliable source for diagrams further explanations colour sketches and photos.

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Such is the wonder and miracles of the eternal beauty of Nature and the endless grace of God.