everyday science MCQ #50904

A rainbow forms when sunlight passes through raindrops after a shower. Which combination of optical processes produces the coloured arc?

everyday science MCQ #50904

  1. Question 1

    Q1. A rainbow forms when sunlight passes through raindrops after a shower. Which combination of optical processes produces the coloured arc?

    • A) Refraction on entering the drop, internal reflection at the back, and refraction again on exiting — separating white light into its constituent colours
    • B) Diffraction at the edges of the raindrops spreads white light into a spectrum
    • C) Selective absorption of different wavelengths by water molecules inside the drops
    • D) Polarisation of sunlight by water surfaces followed by scattering in the atmosphere

    Answer: Refraction on entering the drop, internal reflection at the back, and refraction again on exiting — separating white light into its constituent colours

    Explanation: When a ray of sunlight enters a spherical raindrop, it refracts at the air-water boundary, reflects off the inside back surface, and refracts again as it exits; because the refractive index of water varies slightly with wavelength, different colours refract by different amounts, separating white light into a.