Question

Dispersion of white light into its constituent colours occurs during

• A. reflection at a plane mirror
• B. reflection at a concave mirror.
• C. internal reflection inside a spherical drop of water
• D. refraction at the boundary of a transparent medium.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

refraction at the boundary of a transparent medium.

Upon entry of white light at the first boundary of a triangular prism, there will be a slight separation of the white light into the component colours of the spectrum. Upon exiting the triangular prism at the second boundary, the separation becomes even greater and ROYGBIV is observed in its spectrum. Hence, Dispersion of white light into its constituent colours occurs during refraction at the boundary of a transparent medium.