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How is a rainbow formed?
  • a)
    Reflection of sunlight
  • b)
    Refraction and reflection of the sun's rays through raindrops
  • c)
    Dispersion of sunlight
  • d)
    Diffraction of sunlight
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
How is a rainbow formed?a)Reflection of sunlightb)Refraction and refle...
A rainbow is formed by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays through raindrops.
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How is a rainbow formed?a)Reflection of sunlightb)Refraction and refle...
How a Rainbow is Formed
Rainbows are beautiful natural phenomena that occur under specific atmospheric conditions. The correct answer to how they are formed is option 'B': "Refraction and reflection of the sun's rays through raindrops."
Key Processes in Rainbow Formation
- Refraction: When sunlight enters a raindrop, it bends or refracts due to a change in medium from air to water. This bending of light occurs because different colors of light have different wavelengths, causing them to bend at slightly different angles.
- Dispersion: As the light refracts, it splits into its component colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). This phenomenon is known as dispersion.
- Reflection: After dispersion, the light reflects off the inner surface of the raindrop. This reflection sends the light back towards the front of the droplet.
- Second Refraction: As the light exits the droplet, it refracts again. This second bending increases the separation of colors, making the rainbow more vivid.
Viewing the Rainbow
- The observer must be positioned with the sun behind them and the rain in front.
- The angle at which the light exits the raindrop determines the order of colors seen in the rainbow, with red on the outer edge and violet on the inner edge.
In summary, the formation of a rainbow is a result of the intricate interplay of refraction, reflection, and dispersion of sunlight through raindrops, creating a stunning spectrum of colors in the sky.
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Community Answer
How is a rainbow formed?a)Reflection of sunlightb)Refraction and refle...
Rainbows are formed when sunlight is scattered by raindrops, and the scattered light enters the eyes of an observer. The process that causes this is called refraction. Here's what happens:

Light enters a raindrop
When sunlight hits a raindrop, it slows down and bends as it enters the denser water from the air.

Light disperses into colors
The light reflects off the inside of the raindrop and separates into its different colors, or wavelengths.

Light exits the raindrop
The light refracts out of the raindrop and into the air, creating a rainbow.

Rainbows are an optical phenomenon that appear when the right conditions are present, such as sunlight and atmospheric conditions, and the observer is in the right position to see them. The spherical shape of most raindrops also contributes to the conditions that allow rainbows to be seen.

You can create a rainbow at home by spraying water in front of you while facing away from the sun, when the sun is low in the sky.
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How is a rainbow formed?a)Reflection of sunlightb)Refraction and reflection of the suns rays through raindropsc)Dispersion of sunlightd)Diffraction of sunlightCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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