Creator: Steven Janke | visit site
Grade Range: 6 - 11
How are rainbows formed? Why do they only occur when the sun is behind the observer? If the sun is low on the horizon, at what angle in the sky should we expect to see a rainbow? This lab helps to answer these and other questions by examining a mathematical model of light passing through a water droplet. Follow each step of the lab - how light travels, reflection, refraction, exploration, and analysis - to solve the questions. Each segment offers some information about the topic and questions to explore or experiments. The focus of each of the activities is the Mathematical equations and principals involved in creating rainbows.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector when introducing this topic. Then assign different sections to students to explore then present to the rest of the class. Have students create multimedia presentations based on information learned through explorations in the site. Have students use one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools <a href="/content/edge.cfm?c=16">reviewed here</a>.
At Home
Learn more about rainbows at this site.
Tags
angles, problem solving, light, colors,