Question

When a ray of light is passed through a hollow glass prism, it does not give a spectrum. Explain why?

Answer 1

Step 1: Analyzing:

1. In a hollow glass prism, there is air inside the prism.
2. Hence, when the white light travels from air into the hollow prism, there is no change of medium, as the prism has air inside.

Step 2: Explanation:

1. Spectrum is produced by the light of different colors when they are refracted at different angles inside the prism.
2. Since there is no change in the medium inside a hollow prism, no refraction will take place.
3. Thus, a ray of white light does not give a spectrum through the passage of a hollow prism.
4. The speed of light outside the prism and inside the prism will be the same as air is the common medium inside and outside the hollow prism.

Step 3: Diagrammatic representation: