Skip to main content
5 of 7
edited title
Golden_Hawk
  • 1.1k
  • 1
  • 8
  • 24

A rainbow paradox

I was studying the phenomena of the formation of a rainbow. In my book, the following diagram is given:

Rainbow

So, the rays at the red end of the spectrum make a larger angle with the incident ray than the rays at the violet end of the spectrum. However, whenever we see a primary rainbow, the red is always on the top.

Why is it so? Please explain why the red colour appears at the top although from the above diagram, violet makes a smaller angle with incident ray.

I know there is an obvious explanation and I am surely going wrong somewhere in my understanding. Please help me understand my mistake.

Golden_Hawk
  • 1.1k
  • 1
  • 8
  • 24