Question

Name three factors on which the deviation produced by a prism depends and state how does it depend on the factors stated by you.

Answer 1

The deviation produced by the prism depends on the following four factors:

(a) The angle of incidence

As the angle of incidence increases, first, the angle of deviation decreases and reaches to a minimum value for a certain angle of incidence. By further increasing the angle of incidence, the angle of deviation is found to increase.

(b) The material of prism (i.e., on the refractive index)

For a given angle of incidence, the prism with a higher refractive index produces a greater deviation than the prism which has a lower refractive index.

(c) Angle of the prism

The angle of deviation increases with the increase in the angle of the prism.

(d) The colour or wavelength of light used

The angle of deviation increases with the decrease in the wavelength of light.