In the List-I, four optical effects are mentioned. The physical phenomena of light which are essential to describe these optical effects are given in List-II. Choose the option which describes the correct match between the entries in List-I to those in List-II.
| List-I | List-II | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (P) | Colorful sky in north polar region (Aurora Borealis) | (1) | Dispersion and reflection |
| (Q) | Partially polarized sun light | (2) | Total internal reflection |
| (R) | Rainbow | (3) | Diffraction |
| (S) | Dark and bright fringes | (4) | Scattering of light by molecules in the atmosphere |
| (5) | Emission of radiation from oxygen and nitrogen atoms excited by charged particles |
- (A)P→5, Q→4, R→1, S→3✓ Correct
- (B)P→4, Q→2, R→1, S→3
- (C)P→4, Q→1, R→2, S→3
- (D)P→5, Q→4, R→1, S→2
Answer: (A)
Solution
(P) Aurora Borealis occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere, exciting oxygen and nitrogen which then emit light of different colors → (5)
(Q) Partially polarized sunlight results from scattering of light by dust molecules in the atmosphere → (4)
(R) Rainbow formation occurs due to dispersion and reflection of light inside water droplets → (1)
(S) Dark and bright fringes occur due to interference or diffraction of light → (3)
Therefore: P→5, Q→4, R→1, S→3
(Q) Partially polarized sunlight results from scattering of light by dust molecules in the atmosphere → (4)
(R) Rainbow formation occurs due to dispersion and reflection of light inside water droplets → (1)
(S) Dark and bright fringes occur due to interference or diffraction of light → (3)
Therefore: P→5, Q→4, R→1, S→3
JEE Advanced · 2026 · 17 May 2026 · Paper 1 · Single correct option