What is the distance of an observer to a rainbow?

The MAD Scientist Network: Earth Sciences

Subject: What is the distance of an observer to a rainbow?

Date: Mon Apr 19 19:41:00 1999
Posted by Gailord Gordon
Grade level: grad (science) School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Earth Sciences
ID: 924568860.Es

Message:

Using the refraction angle of 42 degrees I estimate the distance from an observer to a rainbow is approximately 1.4 times the width of the rainbow between the two points that appear to touch the ground. Is there a better way to calculate the distance?

Re: What is the distance of an observer to a rainbow?

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