When light from the sun hits the water droplets in the atmosphere, what visual effect does this create?

When sunlight interacts with water droplets in the atmosphere, it undergoes a specific process that results in the formation of a rainbow. This phenomenon is primarily due to refraction, which is the bending of light as it passes from one medium (air) into another (water). When light enters a raindrop, it is refracted at different angles depending on its wavelength, resulting in the dispersion of light into its constituent colors. As the light exits the droplet, it refracts again, leading to the colorful arc that we perceive as a rainbow.

The conditions in which this occurs involve specific angles and the presence of moisture in the atmosphere, typically after rainfall when the sun shines. This is why a rainbow is more commonly observed during particular weather conditions and is often associated with rain.

Understanding the mechanics of refraction and dispersion in this context illustrates why seeing a rainbow is a direct result of sunlight interacting with water droplets in the atmosphere.