Question

The major contribution of Sir C.V. Raman is:

• A. principle of buoyancy
• B. scattering of light by molecules of a medium
• C. electromagnetic theory
• D. explanation of photoelectric effect

Answer 1

The correct option is B scattering of light by molecules of a medium

Raman scattering or the Raman effect is the inelastic scattering of photon. It was discovered by C.V. Raman and K.S. Krishnan in liquids. When photons are scattered from an atom or molecule, most photons are elastically scattered (Rayleigh Scattering), such that the scattered photons have the same energy as the incident photons. A small fraction of the scattered photons (approximately $1$ in $10million$) are scattered by an excitation, with the scattered photons having a frequency different from, and usually lower than, that of the incident photons.