Dispersion of Light | Physics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Dispersion of Light

• White light contains all the colors of the spectrum.
• Each color within white light possesses a unique wavelength and frequency, representing a specific segment of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• When white light is passed through a prism, it separates into its component colors due to refraction. Violet light undergoes the most refraction, while red light experiences the least, leading to the formation of a spectrum.
• The phenomenon of light dispersion through a prism mirrors the creation of a rainbow in nature.

The Visible Spectrum of Light

• Visible light encompasses the range of wavelengths detectable by the human eye.
• It represents only 0.0035% of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
• While humans see only visible light, certain animals like birds, bees, and some fish perceive beyond, including infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths.
• Different colors correspond to different wavelengths: Red has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency, while violet has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency.

Monochromatic Light

• Light is a transverse wave
• The different colors of light all have varying wavelengths and frequencies. Red possesses the longest wavelength while violet has the shortest.
• Light of a single wavelength, or single frequency, is termed monochromatic.