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What Is a Prism?
A prism is a homogeneous, solid, transparent, refracting medium bounded by two plane surfaces inclined at an angle. The commonly used prism has two triangular faces that are parallel to each other and three rectangular surfaces. They are made from glass or other transparent material cut with precise angles. Two of the three rectangular faces are polished and are called refracting surfaces. The angle between these two rectangular faces is called the refractive angle of the prism.
Prisms are made in different shapes depending on the application. Triangle is the traditional shape of the prism. The triangular prism separates the white light into constituent colours when it is passed through the prism.
How Does Prism Work?
When light travels from one medium to another, there is a change in the speed of light. This change in the speed of light causes the light to get refracted and enter the new medium with a different angle. The angle at which the light hits the surface of the medium and the ratio of refractive indices determines the degree of bending of the refracted light. There will be a change in the refractive index of many materials (e.g., glass) when lights of different wavelengths are used. This is the reason for each colour or different wavelengths making up the white light to be refracted at different angles.
When a narrow beam of white light is incident on a prism, the emerging light is found to consist of seven prominent colours in the order of violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. The violet colour with the shortest wavelength bends the most, and the longest wavelength, red, bends the least. This phenomenon of splitting white light into constituent colours is called dispersion.
Prism is sometimes used as a reflector of light rather than dispersion. If the light rays that enter the prism hit the surface at an angle greater than the critical angle, there will be total internal reflection.
Types of Prism
Dispersive Prism
These types of prisms are used to split the white light into constituent colours.
Reflective Prism
Reflective prisms are used to reverse, rotate or deviate the beam of light. These prisms work on the principle of total internal reflection. They are used in optical instruments like binoculars, periscopes and reflecting telescopes.
Polarising Prism
Polarising prisms split the light beam into components of different polarization. The Nicol prism is an example of the polarising prism.
Beam-splitting Prism
A beam-splitting prism, as the name suggests, refers to the prism that splits the beams into two or more beams.
Deflecting Prism
Deflecting prisms are used to deflect light by a fixed angle. A wedge prism is a deflecting prism.
Wedge prisms have a very shallow angle of 3 degrees or lesser between the input surface and the output surface.
Important Prism Formulas
Refractive Index of the Material of the Prism
The refractive index of the material of the prism(μ) can be written in terms of the angle of prism A and the angle of minimum deviation D.
Deviation Produced by the Thin Prism
As the ray of light is incident on the surface of the prism, it will undergo dispersion and deviation. The change in the path of the monochromatic light as it passes through the prism is called deviation. A thin prism is one in which the refracting angle is very small.
Angle of deviation d = (n-1) A
n is the refractive index.
(n-1) is called the refractivity of the material.
A is the refracting angle
Dispersive Power
The dispersive power of the medium for a pair of wavelengths (colours) is the ratio between the angular dispersion between them to the mean deviation. It is denoted by ω.
ω = Angular dispersion/ Mean deviation
= [(nv-nr) A]/[(n-1)A]
The angular dispersion between the two wavelengths is the difference between their angle of deviation. For example, if dv and dr are the angles of deviation of violet and red, then angular dispersion is given as dv – dr
Angular dispersion dv – dr= (nv-1) A -(nr-1) A
= (nv-nr) A
The mean deviation is the mean of the deviation of the two colours.
d = (dv + dr)/2
d = [(nv-1) A + (nr-1) A]/2
d = [[(nv+ nr)/2] – 1]A
d = (n-1)A where (nv+ nr)/2 = n
Solved Prism Questions
1) Which of the following phenomena takes place in a prism?
a. Deviation
b. Dispersion
c. Refraction
d. Total internal reflection
e. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
2) A glass prism has a refractive index of 600; a ray of light is passed through the prism, which undergoes a minimum deviation of 300. Find the velocity of light in the glass if the velocity in air is 3 x 108 m/s.
Given,
A = 600
D = 300
c = 3 x 108 m/s
Refractive index,
Also, the refractive index of the medium = c/v …..(2)
Therefore,
= 2.12 x 1010 cm/s
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Related Videos
Prism Video Lesson
Prism Problems and Solutions
Refraction through Prism – Rapid Revision
Dispersion by Prism – Rapid Revision
Frequently Asked Questions on Prism
What are the factors on which the dispersive power of the material of the prism depends?
The dispersive power depends on the nature of the material of the prism.
Define refracting angle of a prism.
The angle at which the two refracting surfaces of the prism are inclined to each other.
What is a thin prism?
A prism whose refracting angle A is very small is called a thin prism.
Write the formula for deviation produced by a thin prism.
d = (n-1)A
d = Angle of the prism
n = Refractive index of the material of the prism
A = Angle of the prism
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