In short, a rainbow is caused by sunlight entering raindrops and being refracted. We often see them after rain because it requires water particles to be in the air. You can only see a rainbow if the sun is behind you and there are water particles in the air.
The longer answer:As sunlight goes through raindrops, it refracts because light travels slower through water than air. The light reflects off of the side the rain drop and exits back into the air. When the light exits, it refracts into 7 wavelengths: where each of the colors come from. The colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Rainbows are seven colors because different wavelengths bend at different angles, creating a variety in wavelengths.
Why are rainbows arched? They are arched because sunlight leaves the raindrops at an angle. A certain angle has to be formed between you, the raindrops, and the sun. This angle just so happens to be the reason rainbows are arched.
Rainbows are fascinating. The next time you see one, think about exactly what is happening to make the rainbow!
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