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Ray Optics: Rainbow — Secondary MCQ

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Rainbow — SecondaryMediumQuestion 20255

Question

A secondary rainbow appears because:
  1. A
    Light refracts twice and reflects once in a raindrop
  2. B
    Light reflects twice inside the raindrop
    Correct
  3. C
    Light undergoes TIR only
  4. D
    Secondary means fainter — same mechanism as primary

Correct answer

Light reflects twice inside the raindrop

Explanation

Secondary rainbow: two internal reflections + two refractions. Appears at ~51° from anti-solar point. Colour order is reversed (red inside, violet outside) compared to primary. The region between primary and secondary rainbows is dark (Alexander's dark band).

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