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Chapter 2: Problem 19

Explain how a prism separates white light into different colors.

Short Answer

Expert verified
A glass prism separates white light into different colors due to the dispersion of light, which occurs because different wavelengths of light are bent by different amounts when they pass through the prism.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding White Light Composition

First, recognize that white light is composite light consisting of various colors or wavelengths. Indeed, the colors are often represented as a spectrum ranging from red (longer wavelengths) to violet (shorter wavelengths).
02

Interaction with the Prism

When white light enters a glass prism, the light is refracted, which means it changes direction. The refraction occurs because light slows down when it passes from air, a less dense medium, into glass, which is denser.
03

Dispersion of Light

The degree of refraction or bending of light depends on the wavelength. In the glass prism, different wavelengths of light are refracted by different amounts, leading to a spread of colors, a phenomenon known as dispersion.
04

Emergence of Spectrum

As these various colors exit the prism, they are spread out to form a continuous range of colors, known as a spectrum, because they all exit at slightly different angles due to their different degrees of refraction.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

White Light Composition
Imagine holding a white light bulb in your hand. At first glance, it might seem to emit just one color, but actually, that light is a mix of numerous colors. This mixture of colors, which our eyes perceive as white, is what we refer to as white light composition. In essence, white light is like a hidden treasure chest of colors.
Refraction
Refraction is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs when light passes through different materials. The classic example is a straw in a glass of water that seems to bend at the water's surface. This bending is because light travels at different speeds in air and water.
Similarly, when white light from the sun enters a prism, this change in speed causes the light to change direction. The amount of bending depends on the angle at which the light hits the material and the material's properties.
Wavelength
Wavelength is a term used to describe the distance between two consecutive peaks of a wave. In the context of light, different colors have different wavelengths. Red light has longer wavelengths and violet light has shorter ones. This difference is crucial for understanding how a prism works because each color's wavelength affects how much it will refract.
Dispersion of Light
Dispersion is what happens when white light splits into its component colors. It's like when sunlight hits a raindrop and creates a rainbow. In a prism, dispersion causes light to spread out into a beautiful spectrum of colors. This spread occurs because light of different wavelengths is refracted by different amounts inside the prism.
Light Spectrum
The light spectrum is the array of colors that white light is made up of, and it becomes visible under certain conditions. After passing through a prism, light is spread out to show red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The separation of colors allows us to see a continuous range of colors, each unique in its position and wavelength within the spectrum.

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