What You Need

To make a rainbow in a glass, you will need a few basic materials. You will need a clear glass, a shallow dish, water, oil, food coloring in several colors, a dropper, and a piece of paper. You can use different colored food coloring, or use the same color for different layers of the rainbow.

Steps to Making the Rainbow

The first step is to fill the shallow dish with water. Then, pour oil into the water. This will create a barrier between the water and oil, and the oil will float on top. The next step is to use the dropper to add the food coloring to the oil. Start with the lightest color and add the colors in the order of the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple are the colors of the rainbow. Do not mix the colors together and be careful not to add too much food coloring or the colors will be too intense.

The Magic of the Rainbow

When you have added all of the colors, take the piece of paper and place it just above the surface of the oil. The paper should be flat and not touch the water. Now, you will be able to see the rainbow in the glass. The oil and water create a barrier, and when light passes through it, you can see the different colors. This is why the rainbow appears when you look at the glass from the side.

Learning About Refraction

This science experiment is a great way to teach children about refraction. Refraction is when light passes through a substance and is bent. This is why when you look at the glass from the side, the rainbow appears. The light is passing through the oil and water and is being bent, creating the rainbow.

Conclusion

Making a rainbow in a glass is a fun and easy experiment that can be done at home. It is a great way to teach children about the science of refraction. All you need is a clear glass, a shallow dish, water, oil, food coloring, a dropper, and a piece of paper. When you place the paper just above the surface of the oil, you can see the rainbow in the glass.