Why are rainbows curved?

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A vivid rainbow arches across the sky above a grassy field at sunset, with the sun low on the horizon and soft clouds in the background.

$Diagram showing sunlight entering a water droplet, refracting, reflecting inside it, and emerging as separated red-to-violet light. Rays reaching an observer at about 42 degrees for red and 40 degrees for violet form a rainbow opposite the sun.$

Why are rainbows curved?: Media

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Curved arc of a rainbow

A rainbow appears as a curved arc in the sky because of the way sunlight is refracted,...

How rainbows form

Diagram showing how sunlight reflects and refracts inside a raindrop to form a curved...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Why are rainbows curved?: Media

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