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1 paź 2024 · Dispersion of light. The dispersion of light is illustrated by the refraction of white light by a glass prism. White light contains the wavelengths of all the colours of the spectrum. Each colour has a different wavelength (and frequency), making up a very narrow part of the electromagnetic spectrum
Interactive simulation exploring light refraction between different media, Snell's law, and creating rainbows with prisms.
In this explainer, we will learn how to calculate the dispersive power of a prism, given the refractive indices of the different colors of light passing through it.
Dispersion is defined as the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths. More technically, dispersion occurs whenever there is a process that changes the direction of light in a manner that depends on wavelength. Dispersion, as a general phenomenon, can occur for any type of wave and always involves wavelength-dependent ...
White light that enters near the top of the droplet gets dispersed inside the droplet, reflects, and then gets dispersed as it exits the droplet, sending rays of different-colored light in different directions. The diagram below shows this effect for rays of red and blue light for two droplets. Figure 3.6.11 – Rainbows. A few things to note here:
Dispersion of light is the splitting of white light into its constituent colors due to the refractive index of the surface and the wavelength of the light. If the light entering the prism is not of a single colour then the emergent beam also has different colours arranged in a definite order.
Key learning points. Electromagnetic waves/radiation are transverse oscillations (ripples) in electric and magnetic fields. The visible spectrum shows the range of different frequencies (colours) of visible light waves (visible EM radiation).
