Question

A passenger in an airplane will

• A. never see a rainbow
• B. may see a rainbow as concentric circle
• C. may see a rainbow as concentric arcs
• D. may see a rainbow as straight bands

Answer 1

The correct option is B

may see a rainbow as concentric circle

Explanation of correct option.

Option B is correct:

1. The passenger in an airplane should see the primary and the secondary rainbow in the form of concentric circles. This is because the rays of light will undergo the phenomenon of total internal reflection from the secondary droplets also.
2. We need a water droplet that acts as a prism and a white light to form a rainbow.
3. Now, when white light strikes the water droplet some part of the light gets total internal reflection.
4. When the light rays will pass from water to air they get refracted.
5. we can observe a rainbow but on a flight, we move at such a tremendous speed that the rainbow cannot be seen for a long time.
6. As for the primary and secondary, it depends on the refraction and the angle of the sun. So we can say that while in a flight we can observe both, primary and secondary rainbows, and as for the shape, we mainly spot arcs as concentric circles appear perpendicular to the horizon.

Explanation of incorrect options:

Option A: From the above explanation we can say that this option is not correct.

Option C: Concentric arc can be seen from the surface so this option is also not correct.

Option D: From the above explanation we can say that we get a secondary rainbow so this is not the correct option.