Directions: Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer these questions selec...
A beam of white light gives a spectrum on passing through a glass prism. The band of seven colours formed due to dispersion of white light is called spectrum. Dispersion takes place because the refractive index of medium for different colour is different. Therefore when white light travels from air to air, refractive index remains same and no dispersion occurs.
Directions: Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer these questions selec...
Assertion (A): A beam of white light gives a spectrum on passing through a glass prism.
Reason (R): Speed of light outside the prism is different from the speed of light inside the prism.
The correct answer is option 'D', which states that Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is true.
Explanation:
When a beam of white light passes through a glass prism, it gets refracted and splits into its component colors, forming a spectrum. This phenomenon is known as dispersion. The reason for this dispersion is the difference in the speed of light inside and outside the prism.
Speed of Light:
The speed of light is the fastest speed that any object or information can travel through space. In a vacuum (like outer space), the speed of light is constant and is approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s). However, the speed of light can change when it passes through a medium like glass or water.
Refraction:
When light passes from one medium to another, it changes direction due to a change in its speed. This phenomenon is known as refraction. The amount of refraction depends on the change in speed and the angle at which the light enters the new medium.
Dispersion:
When a beam of white light passes through a glass prism, it enters the prism and undergoes refraction. The different colors (wavelengths) of light bend at different angles as they pass through the prism. This causes the white light to spread out into a spectrum of colors, ranging from red to violet. This is due to the fact that each color of light has a different wavelength and hence a different refractive index in the prism.
Difference in Speed:
The reason for the dispersion of white light in a prism is the difference in the speed of light inside and outside the prism. The speed of light is slower in the glass prism compared to its speed in a vacuum. This difference in speed causes the different colors of light to bend at different angles, resulting in the separation of the spectrum.
Therefore, the Reason (R) is correct as the speed of light outside the prism is different from the speed of light inside the prism. However, the Assertion (A) is false as it only states the observation (white light gives a spectrum on passing through a glass prism) without providing an explanation.