Multiple rainbows from single drops of water and other liquids

@article{Walker1976MultipleRF,
  title={Multiple rainbows from single drops of water and other liquids},
  author={Jearl D. Walker},
  journal={American Journal of Physics},
  year={1976},
  volume={44},
  pages={421-433}
}
  • Jearl D. Walker
  • Published 1 May 1976
  • Physics, Environmental Science
  • American Journal of Physics
The scattering of light by spherical drops and the theory of rainbows are reviewed in detail to predict the angular positions of rainbows from single drops. The angular positions of the first 13 rainbows of water, observed from a drop suspended in a student spectrometer, were compared to these theoretical positions. Since the rainbows were dependent on the refractive index, the positions shifted with drops of other fluids having other refractive indices. Light corn syrup yielded 11 rainbows… 
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