1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Physics
  4. The formation of rainbow is due to phenomenon of:

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. The formation of rainbow is due to phenomenon of:

AFMCAFMC 2003

Solution:

We know that white light is made up of different colours. Different colours of light have different frequencies. The phenomenon of splitting of light into its component colours is called dispersion. When sunlight strikes a rain drop, the light is refracted (bent) because the light is moving from one medium (air) to another medium (water). Drops of rain water can disperse light on the same way as prism. When the light comes out the water droplets the sun's rays (white light) have now been split into their component wavelengths (colours). In this way sunlight is dispersed into its seven component colours and a rainbow is formed.