For teens having a science fair and are not sure what to do for a science project, I would consider doing a project on how rainbows form in the sky. If you are worried about how you're going to demonstrate how a rainbow forms in the sky, don't! I have the greatest way for you to put together a demonstration that will show, explain, and impress the people at the science fair on how rainbows are created.
The materials you will need for this project are:
- prism
- black construction paper
- small shoe box
- some glue
- bright flash light
You can find and purchase a prism at any Discovery Channel Store or science shop for around $15 to $20. All other material you can buy at your local craft stores and department stores such as; Wal-Mart, Target, and K-Mart for under $15.
However, I do know that prism can be a bit pricey to buy. If you do not have the money to buy a prism, you can make one. All you need is a crystal clear glass jar filled with cold water. It will work and create the same rainbow effects as a prism would.
Once you have all your materials bought, you can begin putting together your science project on how rainbows are formed. However, before you start putting together your science fair project you should do some research and learn how rainbows are exactly formed. Some sites I would highly recommend you check out are:
These websites are loaded with information about how rainbows form, and other ways you can demonstrate how to form a rainbow yourself, but just in case you don't want to do a little bit of research, I will give you a brief explanation on how rainbows are made. However I would really recommend you do some research because I know people at the science fair will ask you plenty of question and you want to know the answers. Trust me!
How are Rainbows Formed?
Rainbows are formed when a ray of sunlight or light hits rain droplets or water droplets and breaks them into different wave lengths causing a large spectrum of colors to form. However, the arch you see in a rainbow isn't actually there. Our eyes can only see one wave length and one band of colors of the rainbow at a time and not all of the wave lengths forming the rainbow by all the little droplets and sunlight in the sky. To learn more do some research kiddo!
Coming Up with a Demonstration
Okay, so I am hoping by now you have done some research and know a little bit about how rainbows are formed. Now all you have to do is come up with a demonstration to show how a rainbow is formed. In order to make your demonstration you need to grab your empty shoe box and make sure it has a lid, and line the whole inside of the shoe box with black construction paper using your glue to make the black construction paper stick to all sides of the shoe box. You will also want to cover the bottom of your box lid that is usually faced down on the shoe box. After, allow your glued to dry.
The next things you will do once your black construction paper has dried to the inside of the box are to; Take a box cutter and carve a hole as big as the top of your flashlight into one of the sides of the shoe box. After you will want to take the top of your flashlight and poke it through the hole so it's shinning inside the box. Then you will want to make a peek hole into the top of your shoe box lid so people can look into you shoe box to see the rainbow.
Once you have the holes in the shoe box, and your flashlight through one of the holes shinning into the box, you will need to take your prism and put it inside the shoe box with the light from the flashlight pointing at it. Then put the lid of your shoe box on creating a nice dark environment inside the box. However, if you have a small jar of water you will do the same thing you would do to the prism and just place it in the box and shine the light of the flashlight through it.
By now you should have your project together, and should be able to look through the peek hole at the top of your shoe box and see a rainbow spectrum inside the box that has formed from shinning the light of your flashlight into your prism and having the light bouncing off the black paper forming a rainbow.
End Notes
You should know by now how rainbows are formed by all the research you should have done, and you should have your demonstration put together to show how a rainbow is formed. All you need to do now is bring your science project to the science fair for everyone to see so they can learn about how rainbows are formed. Good luck with the science fair!
