What term correctly describes the bending of light as seen in prisms or water drops, resulting in a rainbow?

The term that accurately describes the bending of light, as observed when light passes through prisms or water droplets, is refraction. Refraction occurs when light travels from one medium to another, causing it to change speed and consequently bend. This bending is responsible for the separation of light into its component colors, which we observe as a spectrum.

In the case of a prism, when white light enters, it slows down and bends at each interface between air and glass, as well as when it exits back into the air. This process causes different wavelengths (colors) of light to refract at different angles, creating a rainbow effect. Similarly, when light passes through water droplets in the atmosphere, it bends, scatters, and reflects, leading to the formation of a rainbow.

This phenomenon highlights the principles of optics, demonstrating how light interacts with different materials and the natural world.