When light passes through a prism of glass,
A) the prism absorbs colors from different parts of the broad beam coming out of the prism, leaving the complementary colors seen.
B) different colors are caused by multiple reflections within the prism and the resulting interference between the beams.
C) refraction changes the directions of different colors or wavelengths of light.
D) the prism adds colors to different parts of the outgoing and broadly scattered beam.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Different colors or wavelengths of light are refracted (bent) by different amounts as they pass through a prism, which separates the light into its component colors, creating a spectrum. This is due to the variation in the refractive index of the glass for different wavelengths.

When Light Passes Through a Prism of Glass