Physics Paper The Process of Formation of a Rainbow - 550 Words

Physics Paper: The Process of Formation of a Rainbow (Essay Sample) Content: The Process of Formation of a rainbow[Name of Student][Name of Institution]The Process of Formation of a rainbowRenowned scholar Isaac Newton was one of the first individuals to illustrate the process of formation of a rainbow. He led to the determination of how dispersion resulted in the splitting of sunlight into different colors (Dawkins, 2010). In 2014, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that the formation of a rainbow is still an ongoing process that requires in-depth analysis. The formation of a rainbow clearly depicts the dispersion of light as it travels through water. Sunlight consists of a range of wavelengths. The wavelengths have got distinct colors that an observer can see when viewing the sky at an angle of 42 degrees (Fowler, 2012). The study of optics exemplifies that rainbows form due to dispersion, refraction, and total internal reflection of light as it moves through water.Rainbows have seven colors that include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (ROYGBIV). Rainbows do not only form when light passes through water but also when light travels through a prism (Buick, 2013). Both water droplets and prisms disperse light into its distinct colors. Each color of the rainbow has a distinct wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and forms at the top of the arc while violet has the shortest wavelength and forms at the bottom of the arc (Dawkins, 2010). Rainbows mostly appear early in the morning or late in the evening. One can form a beautiful rainbow by spraying water in the direction opposite the sun (Maunder, 2011).Refraction occurs when sunlight hits rain droplets. Some rays go through reflection back to the atmosphere while some undergo refraction into the rain droplets. The speed of light reduces at the air-water interface. This is because the rays are moving from a rarer medium (air) to water that is a denser medium (Fowler, 2012). The reduction in the speed of light causes the rays to bend, leadi ng to refraction. After refraction, light rays go through dispersion. Sunlight has seven monochrome rays that have distinct wavelengths. During dispersion, sunlight breaks into its constituent colors. Red color undergoes the least deviation from the incident light while violet color goes through the most deviation (Maunder, 2011).The rays undergo total internal reflection inside the rain droplets. Total internal reflection takes place when the rays travel from a medium of high density to a rarer medium such as air. In order for total internal reflection to occur, the angle of incidence has to be more than the critical angle of water (Dawkins, 2010). No reflection occurs when the critical angle is more than the angle of incidence. When total internal reflection occurs, the rays undergo reflection back to the initial air-water interface. The rays go through further refraction at the air-water boundary. The rays bend away from the normal of air and travels to the eyes of an observer (B uick, 2013).I...

WAIT! That much for a textbook Ill only use once!

When purchasing textbooks for the first time, it can actually come as a shock to those entering university from high school. Even if you know it does cost a bit for textbooks, it can still come as a surprise. When researching the prices - and amount of books - required for my first semester, I was determined to find a way to offset the costs. If I was to only use the textbook once, I wanted to make the most of the resources available to help with the costs. How do you offset the costs? Here are some useful tips for you! ONLINE WEBSITES: From personal experience, I have begun to compare the prices (of the specific edition utilized by the course) of the textbooks within the university bookstore website to Amazon and Chapters. While there are a few books that are lower in price by purchasing the items on the specific university's website, it can be cheaper to purchase them through external websites like Amazon and Chapters. Depending on your order, amount spent, etc., your shi pping can be covered as well. STUDENTS: With students who are aspiring to get rid of those textbooks they will never use again, they can sell them back to the university's bookstore or sell them to those entering the courses themselves. By getting them from students, you can offset costs and not have to wait in long line-ups at the bookstore or wait for your books to come in from online sources. However, be sure that those utilized previously are in the same edition as your course! You can find students at your university selling their books on websites, Facebook, classified ads, or in person. USED BOOKS: By purchasing the textbooks used through the university bookstore, you are able to get the same books offered new at a discounted price. EBOOKS: If you can study on a screen, purchasing the ebook equivalent may be a perfect resource for you. The online versions are less expensive than their print equivalents. You can print out the pages that you wish to and are able to write and highlight as much as you wish. If you are on an ereader, depending on the version, you can even highlight and make notes on the screen! WAIT: In some courses, the course materials listed online to be purchased may not actually be used by the professor. While this may not be the most convinient method, especially spending valuable time waiting in line at the bookstore, you can save money. APPLY: Apply to scholarships , provincial student loans programs, and bursaries. While it is not a guaranteed way to finance your education, you will never know if you can get something if you don't apply! Any amount you can receive is a lessend amount to that you have to purchae on your own. If you are able to handle part-time employment during your education, do so. Apply for jobs during your time off next summer to help assist in the costs next year.