Changes

According to [[Genesis]] 9:11-17, after the [[Great Flood|Flood]] [[God]] told [[Noah]] that henceforth the rainbow would remind God and Mankind of God's promise never to flood the [[Earth]] again.<ref>Genesis 9:11-17, "And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh."</ref> [[Physics]] can explain the appearance of rainbows accurately as the result of refraction and multiple reflections of sunlight in droplets of water, but not the feelings of [[awe]] and [[spirituality]] rainbows inspire, as they did in [[William Wordsworth]] when he wrote:

According to [[Genesis]] 9:11-17, after the [[Great Flood|Flood]] [[God]] told [[Noah]] that henceforth the rainbow would remind God and Mankind of God's promise never to flood the [[Earth]] again.<ref>Genesis 9:11-17, "And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh."</ref> [[Physics]] can explain the appearance of rainbows accurately as the result of refraction and multiple reflections of sunlight in droplets of water, but not the feelings of [[awe]] and [[spirituality]] rainbows inspire, as they did in [[William Wordsworth]] when he wrote:

&nbsp;&nbsp;My heart leaps up when I behold<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;''My heart leaps up when I behold''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A rainbow in the sky:<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''A rainbow in the sky:''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;So was it when my life began;<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;''So was it when my life began;<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;So is it now I am a man;<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;''So is it now I am a man;''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;So be it when I shall grow old,<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;''So be it when I shall grow old,''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or let me die!<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Or let me die!''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The Child is father of the Man;<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;''The Child is father of the Man;''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I could wish my days to be<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''I could wish my days to be''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Bound each to each by natural piety.<ref>William Wordsworth, [http://www.bartleby.com/145/ww194.html "My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold] (1802)</ref>

&nbsp;&nbsp;''Bound each to each by natural piety.''<ref>William Wordsworth, [http://www.bartleby.com/145/ww194.html "My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold] (1802)</ref>

Complete circular rainbows can be seen under the right conditions; in particular, when viewing the mists over [[Niagara Falls]] early or late in the day. Circular rainbows can sometimes be seen from an [[airplane]] when it flies over clouds, the rainbow actually encircling the airplane's shadow on the clouds. One way to think about the rainbow is that the mist or rain is like a projection screen, and the rainbow can only be seen where the projection screen is. When the projection screen is large enough, you see the entire circular rainbow.

Complete circular rainbows can be seen under the right conditions; in particular, when viewing the mists over [[Niagara Falls]] early or late in the day. Circular rainbows can sometimes be seen from an [[airplane]] when it flies over clouds, the rainbow actually encircling the airplane's shadow on the clouds. One way to think about the rainbow is that the mist or rain is like a projection screen, and the rainbow can only be seen where the projection screen is. When the projection screen is large enough, you see the entire circular rainbow.