Actually it is circular but usually the sun needs to be quite low in the sky for the angle of the sunbeams hitting the raindrops to be suitable to create a rainbow visible from the ground. But, when that happens, a part of the rainbow is cut-off by the horizon and so it appears semicircular.
Full circles are rare but have been seen/photographed.
semi-circle
A 3D semi circle
In reality, the shape of rainbow is a circle. The center of the circle is an imaginary line between the center of the sun and the head of the viewer.
No it is a irregular shape
Because the earth blocks you from seeing the full circle. You can use a misting garden hose to make a rainbow, and you'll see it's a full circle.
semi-circle
A 3D semi circle
A rainbow appears as a circle when viewed from an airplane because the observer is seeing the full circular arc of the rainbow due to their high altitude. The shape of a rainbow is actually a full circle, but when viewed from the ground, the bottom half is usually blocked by the horizon. So, from higher altitudes, the full circle can be seen.
A semi-circle is a two dimensional shape.
A semi circle is a 2 dimensional shape
No, rainbows are always in the shape of a circular arc due to the physics of light refraction and reflection in water droplets. The shape of a rainbow is determined by the angle at which sunlight is refracted and reflected in the droplets in the atmosphere.
In reality, the shape of rainbow is a circle. The center of the circle is an imaginary line between the center of the sun and the head of the viewer.
No it is a irregular shape
If you are in a airplane rainbows are actually a circle shape,but from our view it is semi-circle.
Yes.
a rainbow is not shaped like a arc its a circle
Because the earth blocks you from seeing the full circle. You can use a misting garden hose to make a rainbow, and you'll see it's a full circle.