Prism Dispersion: Light Bending Angles
When white light enters a prism, it splits into its constituent colors. This splitting is known as dispersion. Each color bends at a different angle because the prism's refractive index varies for different wavelengths of light.
The amount of bending (angle of deviation) is inversely related to the wavelength of light. Specifically:
- Violet light has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum. It experiences the highest refractive index (\(n_{violet}\)) and therefore bends the most.
- Red light has the longest wavelength. It experiences the lowest refractive index (\(n_{red}\)) and therefore bends the least.
The colors of visible light, in order of decreasing wavelength (and thus increasing bending), are Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet (ROYGBIV).
Based on this principle:
- Red bends the least.
- Violet bends the most.
Similar Questions
- When an object is placed at infinity in front of a convex lens, the image formed is:
- A concave mirror is used in torches and car headlights because it:
- Which of the following statements correctly describes a double concave lens?
A convex mirror of focal length f (in air) is immersed in a liquid . The focal length of the mirror in liquid \(\left( {\mu - \frac{4}{3}} \right)\) will be:
The reflector of a searchlight is a:
If you look into a mirror and find that the image (your reflexion) is smaller than you, then the type of the mirror is:
The focal length of a concave mirror with a radius of curvature of 20.0 cm is:
Find the position of the image formed by a concave mirror when the object is placed between P and F?
A person holding a pen in his left-hand sees his reflection in the mirror holding the pen in his right hand. This is due to which of the following phenomena?
- Complete the statement with correct option.
In dispersion without deviation,_________________
Important Questions from Optics
Which one of the following colours may be obtained by combining green and red colours?
Which of the following are the primary colours of light?
Which among the following is used as a reflector in search lights?
The incident ray, the ray perpendicular to the point of incidence, and the reflected ray all lie________.
Which is the only event to prove that light is a transverse wave?
A. Scattering of light
B. Interference
C. Diffraction
D. Polarisation
