The silver lining surrounding the profile of a mountain just before sunrise is due to

Options

A. interference
B. diffraction
C. dispersion
D. refraction

Answer

To solve the question regarding the silver lining surrounding the profile of a mountain just before sunrise, we can break down the explanation into clear steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Scenario**:
- Before sunrise, the sun is below the horizon, but its light is still reaching the atmosphere and the mountain.
- The mountain appears dark against the brightening sky.

2. **Light Interaction with the Mountain**:
- As sunlight approaches the mountain, it interacts with the edges of the mountain.
- The light rays from the sun are not directly visible because the sun itself has not yet risen above the mountain.

3. **Phenomenon of Light Bending**:
- The light from the sun bends around the edges of the mountain due to its interaction with the mountain's profile.
- This bending of light is a result of the wave nature of light.

4. **Identifying the Correct Optical Phenomenon**:
- The bending of light around obstacles is known as **diffraction**.
- In this case, the mountain acts as an obstacle, causing the light to spread out and create a visible outline or "silver lining" around it.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The silver lining surrounding the profile of the mountain just before sunrise is due to **diffraction** of light.

### Final Answer:
The silver lining surrounding the profile of a mountain just before sunrise is due to **diffraction**.

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