INSIGHT UPSC QUIZ

Science & Technology General Science
Q.

If an opaque object on the path of light becomes very small, light has a tendency to bend around it and not walk in a straight line. This effect is known as:

Explanation:

ANSWER: (C) 

  • Light travels in a straight line. However, if an opaque object on the path of light becomes very small, light has a tendency to bend around it and not walk in a straight line – an effect known as the diffraction of light.
  • In the atmosphere, diffracted light is actually bent around atmospheric particles -- most commonly, the atmospheric particles are tiny water droplets found in clouds. Diffracted light can produce fringes of light, dark or colored bands. 

  • An optical effect that results from the diffraction of light is the silver lining sometimes found around the edges of clouds or coronas surrounding the sun or moon. The illustration above shows how light (from either the sun or the moon) is bent around small droplets in the cloud.

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