Human Eye and The Colourful World 297

ACTIVITY ZONE
ACTIVITY 1 ∠i = angle of incidence
∠r = angle of refraction
Objective
∠e = angle of emergence
To study the refraction of light through a triangular glass ∠D = angle of deviation.
prism.
Observation
Materials Required Ä The given figure shows refraction of light through a
Sheet of white paper, drawing board, drawing pins and glass triangular glass prism. On surface AB, the first refraction
prism. occurs at point E . The incident ray PE enters from air
into glass at E . It is then refracted along EF bending
Procedure towards normal NN ′ on face AB.
1. Fix a sheet of white paper on a drawing board using Ä On the surface AC , the second refraction occurs at point
drawing pins. F and the initial refracted ray EF travelling in glass
2. Place a glass prism on it in such a way that it rests on its emerges in air at F . It emerges along FS bending away
triangular base. Trace the outline of the prism using a from normal MM ′ on face AC .
pencil. Ä The angle of refraction (r) is smaller than the angle of
3. Draw a straight line PE inclined to one of the refracting incidence (i ) at the first refracting surface AB. Similarly,
surfaces, say AB, of the prism. the angle of emergence (e ) is larger than the angle of
4. Fix two pins, say at points P and Q , on the line PE as refraction ( ∠EFM ′ ) at the second refracting surface AC .
It is similar to the kind of bending that occurs in a glass
shown in figure.
slab. Net deviation in a rectangular glass slab is zero,
5. Look for the images of the pins, fixed at P and Q , except for lateral shift.
through the other face AC . Ä However, due to a peculiar shape of the prism, net
6. Fix two more pins, at points R and S, such that the pins at deviation in passing through a prism is never zero. The
R and S and the images of the pins at P andQ lie on the deviation suffered by the ray is equal to ∠HGS which is
same straight line. called the angle of deviation. Its value depends on an
angle of incidence, angle of prism and nature of material
7. Remove the pins and the glass prism.
of prism.
8. The line PE meets the boundary of the prism at point E
(see figure). Similarly, join and produce the points R and Conclusion
S . Let these lines meet the boundary of the prism at E The peculiar shape of the prism makes the emergent ray
and F , respectively. Join E and F . bend at an angle to the direction of the incident ray.
9. Draw perpendiculars to the refracting surfaces AB and
AC of the prism at points E and F , respectively.
10. Mark the angle of incidence ( ∠i ), the angle of refraction
Check Yourself
( ∠r ) and the angle of emergence ( ∠e ) as shown in figure. 1. In the activity, ray FRS is of what type?
A Ans In the activity, FRS is an emergent ray.
H
2. What is angle D called?
N G M
D Ans Angle D is called angle of deviation produced by the prism.
i r e 3. In the diagram, which angle is called angle of prism?
E F
M′
Ans In the diagram, ∠ A is called angle of prism.
Q N′ R
P S 4. What is the angle of deviation in case of triangular prism?
Ans Angle of deviation in case of triangular prism is given by
B C
where, PE = incident ray ∠D = ∠i + ∠e − ∠A.
EF = refracted ray 5. How many times refraction takes place, when light ray
FS = emergent ray passes through a prism?
Ans Refraction takes place two times when the light ray passes
∠A = angle of prism
through a prism.
298 SCIENCE

ACTIVITY 2 Observation
Ä In the figure, the sunlight falls on a narrow slit in a
Objective thick sheet of cardboard. From the slit, a narrow
To understand how white light of the Sun gives us various beam of white light is obtained which falls on the
colours of the rainbow. surface AB of a glass prism ABC .
Ä If we turn the prism slowly, we see a beautiful band
Materials Required of seven colours on a screen called visible spectrum.
Sheet of paper, cardboard and glass prism. The sequence of colours seen from the lower part of
the screen is violet (V ), indigo ( I ), blue ( B ), green
Procedure (G ), yellow (Y ), orange (O ) and red (R ). The acronym
1. Take a thick sheet of cardboard and make a small hole or is VIBGYOR.
narrow slit in its middle.
2. Allow sunlight to fall on the narrow slit. This gives a narrow
beam of white light. Conclusion
3. Now, take a glass prism and allow the light from the slit to fall Different wavelengths of light have different speeds in
on one of its faces as shown in figure. the same medium.
4. Turn the prism slowly until the light that comes out of it
appears on a nearby screen. Check Yourself
5. What do you observe? You will find a beautiful band of
colours. Why does this happen? 1. Which colour of light bends least?
Ans Red colour of light bends least.
Slit A
2. Which colour of light bends most?
Ans Violet colour of light bends most.
3. Why dispersion takes place?
Ans It is because different colours have different wavelengths.
R 4. Which colour is in middle of spectrum?
Sunlight
White light
White light spectrum Ans Green appears in the middle of spectrum.
beam B C V
Glass prism 5. What does dispersion prove?
Ans Dispersion proves that white light is made up of seven
different colours.