What is a spectrum? Why do we get a spectrum of seven colours when white light is dispersed by a prism?

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Solution

The band of seven colors obtained, when a white light splits into its constituent colors on striking the surface of glass prism is called as a spectrum. A beam of white light splits into the spectrum of seven colors when it is passed through a prism because of the difference in the angle of refraction of different colors.

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Similar questions

Q. Draw a diagram to show how white light can be dispersed into a spectrum by using a glass prism. Mark the various colours of the spectrum.

Q. Why do the component colours of incidet white light split into a spectrum while passing through a glass prism?

A ray of white light is passed through a glass prism and spectrum is obtained on a screen.

(a) Name the seven colours of the spectrum in order.

(b) Do the colours have the same width in the spectrum ?

Q. When white light splits in seven colours, the phenomenon is called spectrum.

Statement 1: When white light ray passes through a prism it disperses into seven different colours, and this phenomenon is called dispersion.

Statement 2: Refraction depends upon the wavelength of light and since different colours have different wavelengths, they are refracted at different angles and so they are split into the colour spectrum.

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