Why no two people see the same rainbow

You probably don’t understand how a rainbow really works. Get a little smarter every day with Brilliant. Visit https://brilliant.org/veritasium to get 20% off your annual premium subscription.

Special thanks to Mats Vermeeren.

00:00 Most people don't understand rainbows
01:08 Light refraction explained
08:20 How does a rainbow form?
13:10 Circular rainbows
15:14 Why are rainbows curved?
17:30 Why can’t you see a rainbow with sunglasses?
18:43 Why is it brighter underneath a rainbow?
20:44 Different types of rainbow
23:46 Invention of the cloud chamber

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CORRECTION: We mistakenly used picture of the portrait artist Henry Tanworth Wells at 23:54. It should be a picture of CTR Wilson. Sorry! Thanks, @manicpixiedreambuoy, for pointing it out.

CORRECTION: The animation at 18:06 shows only the parallel polarization being transmitted, when in reality both parallel and perpendicular polarization light gets transmitted. Perpendicularly polarized light doesn't exhibit a Brester's angle so there's always both reflection and transmission when going from a high index of refraction material to a low index of refraction material.

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References: https://ve42.co/RefsRainbows

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Directed by Pablo Rovetto and Derek Muller
Written by Pablo Rovetto and Derek Muller
Edited by Nick Lear and Trenton
Animated by Mike Radjabov, Ivy Tello, David Szakaly, Emma Wright and Fabio Albertelli
Filmed by Derek Muller
Additional research by Gabe Bean and Geeta Thakur
Produced by Pablo Rovetto, Derek Muller, Emily Zhang, Rob Beasley Spence and Tori Brittain
Thumbnail contributions by Jakub Misiek, Ren Hurley and Peter Sheppard
Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images, Storyblocks
Music from Epidemic Sound

Post from Veritasium on December 01, 2024

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