About this Simulation

This simulation models light deflection through two internal reflections within a water droplet, a key mechanism in rainbow formation. Students can adjust incident angles, refractive indices, and wavelengths to observe how light bends and bounces inside the droplet, directly connecting optical physics principles to natural phenomena like rainbows.

Learning objectives: Understand how two internal reflections affect light deflection angles in water droplets | Explore the relationship between wavelength, refractive index, and color separation in rainbows | Apply Snell's law and geometric optics to predict light paths through spherical media