Rainbow is a phenomenon due to the combined effect of(A) Interference…

The correct answer is Option (2) → (B), (C) and (D) only

A rainbow forms when sunlight enters spherical raindrops: it is refracted and split into colours as it enters, reflected once inside the drop, and refracted again as it leaves.

(A) Interference — Incorrect. The colours of the rainbow do not come from superposition of waves.

(B) Dispersion — Correct. Different colours have different refractive indices in water, so they separate.

(C) Reflection — Correct. The light is internally reflected at the back of the drop and comes back towards the observer.

(D) Refraction — Correct. Light is refracted on entering and on leaving the drop.

(E) Scattering — Incorrect. Scattering explains the blue sky and the red sunset, not the rainbow.

Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic was removed from the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it also appears to be out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.

NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
The Rainbow – “The rainbow is an example of the dispersion of sunlight by the water drops in the atmosphere. This is a phenomenon due to combined effect of dispersion, refraction and reflection of sunlight by spherical water droplets of rain.”