wide-mouthed, smooth, circular glass jar or
large plain drinking glass filled with water
•
small mirror
•
flashlight
STEP 1:
Place the mirror inside the water-filled jar.
Tilt the mirror slightly upward.
STEP 2 :
In a very dark room with white walls, shine the
flashlight onto the mirror. A rainbow appears!
Hint: If no rainbow appears at first, just
change the angle of light from the flashlight or
change the angle of the mirror.
WHY DOES THE RAINBOW APPEAR?
The mirror reflects light that passes back
through the water, traveling at an angle. The
water refracts, or bends, the light. As light
bends, it separates into the colors of the
rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and
violet.
