PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · The Human Eye and the Colourful World · The Human Eye and the Colourful World
Problem
During a classroom demonstration, a narrow beam of white light is directed through a triangular glass prism and projected onto a white screen. From the top edge of the spread‐out spectrum to the bottom edge the instructor labels the bands of light “V”, “B”, “G”, “Y”, “O”, and “R.”
(a) Write the six labeled colors in order of increasing wavelength.
(b) Explain, in terms of properties of electromagnetic waves and their interaction with the prism, why the ordering you gave in part (a) matches the vertical positioning observed on the screen.
(c) Based on your answer to part (a), identify which of the six colors has the greatest speed while it is traveling INSIDE the glass prism. Justify your choice without numerical calculations.