In the spectrum formed by dispersion of sunlight through a prism, which colour deviates the most?
- AOption (a)
Red
- BOption (b)
Green
- COption (c)
Yellow
- DOption (d)
Violet
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Correct answer
Violet
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is Violet.
Key Points
- When sunlight passes through a prism, it undergoes dispersion, splitting into its constituent colors, forming a spectrum known as VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red).
- The degree of bending or deviation of light depends on its wavelength. Shorter wavelengths deviate more, while longer wavelengths deviate less.
- Violet light, having the shortest wavelength (around 400 nm), deviates the most when passing through a prism.
- Red light, having the longest wavelength (around 700 nm), deviates the least in the spectrum.
- This phenomenon is a result of the refractive index of the prism material being inversely proportional to the wavelength of light.
- Thus, in the spectrum of dispersed sunlight, violet appears at the bottom (most deviated), while red appears at the top (least deviated).
Additional Information
- Dispersion of Light:
- Dispersion is the phenomenon where white light splits into its constituent colors when passing through a medium like a glass prism.
- The colors are ordered based on their wavelength, with violet having the shortest wavelength and red the longest.
- This is governed by the refractive index of the medium, which varies for different wavelengths.
- Refractive Index:
- The refractive index of a material determines how much light bends when entering the material.
- It is inversely related to the wavelength of light—shorter wavelengths experience a higher refractive index and bend more.
- For example, the refractive index for violet light in glass is higher than that for red light, causing greater deviation for violet.
- Applications of Dispersion:
- Rainbows are natural examples of dispersion, where sunlight is dispersed by raindrops, creating a spectrum of colors.
- Prisms are used in scientific instruments like spectrometers to analyze light spectra.
- Understanding dispersion helps in designing optical devices like cameras, telescopes, and microscopes.
- Wavelengths of Visible Light:
- Violet: ~380-450 nm
- Blue: ~450-495 nm
- Green: ~495-570 nm
- Yellow: ~570-590 nm
- Orange: ~590-620 nm
- Red: ~620-750 nm
Important Points
- Isaac Newton demonstrated the dispersion of light using a glass prism in the 17th century.
- The angle of deviation for a particular color depends on the shape and material of the prism, as well as the wavelength of the light.
- In practical applications, dispersion is minimized in lenses using achromatic lenses, which combine materials with different refractive indices to reduce chromatic aberration.
- The order of colors in the spectrum remains consistent in all dispersion phenomena: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red (VIBGYOR).