Which of the following phenomena explains the formation of a rainbow?

Solution

1. When sunlight enters a spherical water droplet, it undergoes refraction and begins to bend.
2. As the light travels through the droplet, it experiences dispersion, which separates the white light into its individual constituent colors.
3. The light then undergoes internal reflection off the back surface of the droplet.
4. Finally, the light refracts again as it exits the droplet, resulting in the visible spectrum of a rainbow.
5. Hence the answer is (C).