INSIGHT UPSC QUIZ

Science & Technology General Science
Q.

Consider the following statements about ‘rainbow’:

1. It is caused by dispersion of sunlight by tiny water droplets present in the atmosphere. 

2. A rainbow is always formed in a direction opposite to that of the Sun.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

ANSWER: (C) 

  • A rainbow is a natural spectrum appearing in the sky after a rain shower. It is caused by dispersion of sunlight by tiny water droplets, present in the atmosphere. (Thus, Statement 1 is correct)
  • A rainbow is always formed in a direction opposite to that of the Sun. (Thus, Statement 2 is correct)
  • The water droplets act like small prisms. They refract and disperse the incident sunlight, then reflect it internally, and finally refract it again when it comes out of the raindrop. 
  • Due to the dispersion of light and internal reflection, different colours reach the observer’s eye.

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