“Light Bends Water” explores the science behind rainbows, revealing the interplay between light and water droplets. It begins with the nature of light, describing its wave-particle duality and electromagnetic spectrum, and then examines water's optical properties, such as its refractive index. Refraction, the bending of light as it transitions between air and water, is key to understanding how rainbows form. The book explains how the angle of minimum deviation determines the rainbow's characteristic angle and how light dispersion separates white light into the familiar spectrum of colors. The book explains complex concepts in a clear, accessible manner. It shows how the formation of rainbows is a direct result of refraction, demonstrating the power of physics to explain natural phenomena. “Light Bends Water” progresses logically, starting with foundational concepts and building toward a detailed explanation of rainbow formation, including secondary rainbows and Alexander's band. It uses mathematical models and ray-tracing diagrams to support its explanations.
