When light passes through a prism of glass, the
A) different colors or wavelengths of light are separated in angle by the prism.
B) different colors are caused by multiple reflections in the prism and interference between the resulting beams.
C) prism absorbs colors from different parts of the broad beam coming out of the prism, leaving the complementary colors observed.
D) prism adds colors to different parts of the broadly scattered beam coming out of it.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The separation of different colors or wavelengths of light when passing through a prism is due to dispersion. The prism bends (refracts) different wavelengths of light by different amounts, causing the light to spread out into its component colors, creating a spectrum. This is not due to absorption, addition of colors, or interference within the prism.

When Light Passes Through a Prism of Glass, the