Colour Dispersion through Prisms

Question 1

What is colour dispersion?

Answer 1

The separation of white light into its component colours due to the amount each light refracts.

Question 2

What is white light?

Answer 2

EM radiation consisting of many component colours from the visible spectrum.

Question 3

What happens when a high frequency light (violet) compared to a low frequency light (red) when entering a high refractive index medium

Answer 3

The violet light will bend TOWARDS the normal more than the red light.

Question 4

What happens when a high frequency light (violet) compared to a low frequency light (red) when entering a low refractive index medium

Answer 4

The violet light will bend AWAY from the normal more than the red light.

Question 5

Why does a prism cause colour dispersion?

Answer 5

The component colours of white light refract by different amounts due to their different speeds which causes them to separate.