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Diffraction of sunlight through water droplets in the air causes the light to separate into its component colors, creating a rainbow. Each color is refracted at a slightly different angle, resulting in the distinctive arc shape of a rainbow.

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Q: How does diffraction cause a rainbow?
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How does diffraction contribute to the formation of a rainbow?

Diffraction is the bending of light waves as they pass through a medium, such as water droplets in the atmosphere. When sunlight hits these water droplets, diffraction causes the light to separate into its different colors, creating the beautiful arc of a rainbow.


Which wave interaction is responsible for the colorful rainbow on the back of a CD?

The colorful rainbow on the back of a CD is caused by diffraction, where light waves are bent and spread out due to the closely spaced tracks on the CD. This diffraction creates the rainbow effect as different colors of light interfere constructively and destructively.


Why can you see a rainbow on a CD?

You can see a rainbow on a CD because the surface of the CD acts as a diffraction grating, separating white light into its different colors. When light hits the surface, it gets diffracted and the different colors become visible due to interference patterns.


How does rainbow diffraction occur in nature?

Rainbow diffraction occurs in nature when sunlight passes through water droplets in the atmosphere, causing the light to bend and separate into its different colors. This happens because the different colors of light have different wavelengths, which causes them to refract at slightly different angles, creating the rainbow effect that we see in the sky.


How does a diffraction grating affect white light?

A diffraction grating separates white light into its component colors by bending and spreading the light waves. This creates a spectrum of colors, similar to a rainbow.