Question

Why does white light split into seven colours on passing through a glass prism?

Answer 1

1. White light constitutes seven wavelengths and each wavelength corresponds to a different color.
2. The speed of each wavelength in the given medium is different.
3. The refractive index of the medium is different for the light of different wavelength
4. Therefore, when the white light passes through the prism, the refractive index of the prism causes the change in the bending of light due to refraction.
5. Hence, the white light splits into seven colors when it passes through a prism
6. The highest wavelength travels the slowest in the medium.
7. While passing through a prism, the white ray splits into different colors as the wavelength of these lights are not the same through the medium.
8. After refraction through the prism, the separation of the seven colors from the white light is known as dispersion of light.