2024 · Q23
The phenomenon of rainbow formation by water droplets involves :
General KnowledgePhysics
- Asingle refraction of sunlight
- Bone internal reflection of sunlight
- Ctwo internal reflections of sunlight
- Dboth refraction and internal reflection of sunlight
Explanation
A rainbow forms when sunlight entering a water droplet is refracted, then undergoes one or more total internal reflections inside the droplet, and is refracted again on exit, with dispersion splitting the colours. The primary bow involves a single internal reflection and the secondary bow two, so the phenomenon fundamentally requires both refraction and internal reflection. Neither refraction alone nor reflection alone can produce it. Hence option D is correct.