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A rainbow seen after rainfall is produced by water droplets acting as tiny prisms. Which combination of optical processes together produces a rainbow?
ARefraction, reflection and absorption
BRefraction, dispersion and total internal reflection
CReflection, absorption and scattering
DDispersion, absorption and partial reflection
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Refraction, dispersion and total internal reflection
1. The chapter states a rainbow is the combined effect of dispersion, refraction and total internal reflection of light.
2. Inside a droplet, sunlight is first refracted and dispersed on entry.
3. It then undergoes total internal reflection at the back of the droplet and is refracted again on exit.
4. Absorption and scattering are not part of this mechanism, so the distractors containing them are wrong.
_Source: Balbharati (Maharashtra Board) Class 10 Science & Technology, Ch 6 "Refraction of Light", p.87_
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