Chapter 29, Problem 46A

To determine

To explain: the two observers standing apart from each other do not see the same rainbow. 

Explanation of Solution

Introduction: 

A rainbow appears due to the sunlight and atmospheric conditions. When light enters the droplets, it bends and passes through the air. The light that reflects off the water droplet and separated into different wavelengths produces the colors of a rainbow. 

Explanation: 

The raindrop that disperses the light to form a rainbow will lie within a cone of semi-vertical angle, approximately $42°$

When two observers are standing apart, they can observe different parts of the rainbow on the surface of the cone. The portion of a rainbow being viewed depends on the position of person standing.

Therefore, two observers will form two different cones with their position of standing at the vertex of the cone, and the rainbow appears differently for both the observers. 

Conclusion: 

Two observers standing apart will not see the different rainbow due to their position of standing and semi-vertical cone angle of the rainbow.