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HomeScottish National 5PhysicsMirrors and Lenses › Rainbows form in the sky through which combinati…

Rainbows form in the sky through which combination of optical effects?

ARefraction and reflection inside water droplets
BDiffraction and polarisation inside water droplets
CTotal internal reflection only, with no refraction
DAbsorption followed by re-emission at a new wavelength
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Refraction and reflection inside water droplets
1. Rainbows are produced by a combination of refraction and reflection inside water droplets. 2. Light is refracted as it enters the drop, reflected once from the back of the drop, and refracted again as it leaves. 3. Diffraction and polarisation are not the pair of effects named for producing a rainbow. _Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 16 "Mirrors and Lenses", section 16.2 Refraction_
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