Cedar Grows International Schools Year 11

PHYSICS

DISPERSION OF WHITE LIGHT

Production of Pure and Impure Spectrum, Colour of Objects
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define dispersion of light and explain why it occurs

2. Describe the composition of white light
3. Draw ray diagrams showing dispersion through prisms
4. Identify the colors in the visible spectrum and their order
5. Explain why objects appear to have different colors
6. Apply knowledge of dispersion to everyday phenomena
7. Explain applications of dispersion in optical instruments

INTRODUCTION TO DISPERSION
Dispersion is the separation of white light into its component colors when it passes through a
transparent medium such as a glass prism. This occurs because different colors of light have different
wavelengths and therefore different refractive indices in the same medium.

Historical Background
● Isaac Newton (1666): First systematic study of light dispersion
● Used a glass prism to split sunlight into colors
● Proved that white light is composed of different colors
● Coined the term "spectrum" (Latin for "appearance")

Why Dispersion Occurs

Fundamental Principle: Different wavelengths of light travel at different speeds in the same
medium, causing them to refract by different amounts.

Key Points:

1. Wavelength Dependence: Refractive index varies with wavelength

2. Speed Variation: Different colors travel at different speeds in the medium
3. Refraction Differences: Each color bends by a different amount
4. Angular Separation: Colors emerge at different angles

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NATURE OF WHITE LIGHT

Composition of White Light
White light is not a single color but a mixture of all visible colors of light. When these colors are
combined in proper proportions, they produce the sensation of white light.

Color Sequence (Mnemonic: ROY G BIV):

1. Red (R) - Longest wavelength (~700 nm)

2. Orange (O) - (~620 nm)
3. Yellow (Y) - (~580 nm)
4. Green (G) - (~530 nm)
5. Blue (B) - (~460 nm)
6. Indigo (I) - (~440 nm)
7. Violet (V) - Shortest wavelength (~400 nm)

Relationship Between Properties

● Wavelength and Frequency: λ × f = c (speed of light)
● Wavelength and Energy: E = hf = hc/λ (shorter wavelength = higher energy)
● Wavelength and Refractive Index: Shorter wavelength = higher refractive index

DISPERSION BY A PRISM
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Entry into Prism Step 2: Travel Through Step 3: Exit from Prism
Prism
● White light hits first ● Light hits second
prism surface ● Different colors prism surface
● All colors refract travel at different ● Refraction away
toward normal speeds from normal
● Slight separation ● Red travels fastest, ● Maximum
begins due to violet slowest dispersion occurs
different refractive ● Angular separation here
indices maintained ● Colors emerge at
different angles

Snell's Law for each color: n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂

Where n₂ varies with wavelength (color).

Characteristics of Prism Dispersion

1. Red light: Least deviation (travels fastest in glass)
2. Violet light: Most deviation (travels slowest in glass)
3. Continuous spectrum: All colors blend smoothly
4. Angular dispersion: Increases with prism apex angle

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PURE SPECTRUM
A pure spectrum is one in which the different colors are completely separated with sharp boundaries
between them, and each color appears as a single, distinct band.

Characteristics of Pure Spectrum

1. Sharp Color Boundaries: Clear separation between colors
2. Distinct Color Bands: Each color appears as narrow line
3. No Overlapping: Colors don't blend at edges
4. Maximum Intensity: Each color appears bright and saturated
5. Uniform Width: All color bands have similar width

IMPURE SPECTRUM
An impure spectrum is one in which the different colors are not completely separated, showing
overlapping regions and blurred boundaries between colors.

Characteristics of Impure Spectrum

1. Blurred Boundaries: Colors merge gradually
2. Overlapping Colors: Adjacent colors blend
3. Reduced Intensity: Colors appear dim
4. Uneven Width: Color bands have different widths
5. Background Light: White light contamination

RECOMBINATION OF SPECTRUM
Newton's Experiment
Newton demonstrated that white light could be reconstituted by recombining the dispersed colors.

Methods of Recombination
1. Second Prism Method: ● Use second inverted position
identical prism in

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● Spectrum from first ● Use converging lens

prism enters second to focus all colors to
prism single point
● Colors recombine to ● All colors overlap at
form white light focal point
beam ● Produces white
light spot
2. Converging Lens
Method: 3. Rotating Disc Method
(Newton's Color Disc):

● Paint disc with

spectrum colors in
correct proportions
● Rotate rapidly
● Persistence of
vision creates white
appearance

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Significance of Recombination
1. Proves White Light Composition: White light truly contains all colors
2. Demonstrates Reversibility: Dispersion process can be reversed
3. Color Addition Principle: All colors together make white
4. Practical Applications: Basis for color displays and lighting

COLOUR OF OBJECTS
The color we perceive an object to have depends on which wavelengths of light it reflects, absorbs, or
transmits. Understanding this principle explains why objects appear different colors under different
lighting conditions.

Interaction of Light with Objects: Reflection and Absorption

1. White Objects:

● Reflect all wavelengths equally

● Appear white under white light
● May appear colored under colored light

2. Colored Objects:

● Reflect certain wavelengths preferentially

● Absorb other wavelengths
● Color depends on reflected wavelengths

3. Black Objects:

● Absorb most wavelengths

● Reflect very little light
● Appear black under normal lighting

Color Behavior Examples

[DETAILED EXAMPLES TABLE NEEDED: Object Color | Light Color | Reflected Light |
Apparent Color | Explanation Red | White | Red | Red | Reflects red component Red | Red | Red
| Bright Red | All incident light reflected Red | Green | None | Black | No red light to reflect
Green | White | Green | Green | Reflects green component Green | Red | None | Black | No green
light to reflect Yellow | White | Red + Green | Yellow | Reflects red and green Yellow | Red | Red
| Red | Only red component available White | Red | Red | Red | Reflects whatever is incident
Black | Any | Very little | Black | Absorbs most wavelengths]

Pigments and Dyes

Subtractive Color Mixing

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Primary Pigments:

● Cyan: Absorbs red, reflects green and blue

● Magenta: Absorbs green, reflects red and blue
● Yellow: Absorbs blue, reflects red and green

Secondary Pigment Colors:

● Cyan + Magenta = Blue (absorbs red and green)

● Cyan + Yellow = Green (absorbs red and blue)
● Magenta + Yellow = Red (absorbs green and blue)
● All Three = Black (absorbs all colors)

Complementary Colors
Definition: Colors that combine to produce white light are called complementary colors.

Complementary Pairs:

1. Red and Cyan

2. Green and Magenta
3. Blue and Yellow

Applications:

● Photography: Color correction filters

● Art: Color harmony and contrast
● Display Technology: Color reproduction
● Lighting Design: Color balance

ADDITIVE AND SUBTRACTIVE COLOR MIXING

Additive Color Mixing (Light)

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Principle: Colors are created by adding different wavelengths of light together.

Primary Colors of Light:

● Red (R)
● Green (G)
● Blue (B)

Secondary Colors of Light:

● Yellow = Red + Green

● Magenta = Red + Blue
● Cyan = Green + Blue
● White = Red + Green + Blue

Applications:

● Television and computer screens

● LED lighting systems
● Stage lighting
● Digital displays

Subtractive Color Mixing (Pigments)

Principle: Colors are created by subtracting (absorbing) certain wavelengths from white light.

Primary Pigments:

● Cyan (absorbs red)

● Magenta (absorbs green)
● Yellow (absorbs blue)

Secondary Pigment Colors:

● Red = Magenta + Yellow (absorbs green and blue)

● Green = Cyan + Yellow (absorbs red and blue)
● Blue = Cyan + Magenta (absorbs red and green)
● Black = Cyan + Magenta + Yellow (absorbs all colors)

Applications:

● Painting and printing

● Photography (color film)
● Textile dyeing
● Color printing (CMYK system)

APPLICATIONS OF DISPERSION
1. Spectroscopy
Principle: Analysis of light spectra to determine composition of materials.

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Types of Spectra:

● Continuous Spectrum: Smooth range of all wavelengths

● Emission Spectrum: Bright lines at specific wavelengths
● Absorption Spectrum: Dark lines at specific wavelengths

Applications:

● Astronomy: Determining composition and temperature of stars

● Chemistry: Identifying elements and compounds
● Medicine: Blood analysis and diagnostics
● Environmental Monitoring: Detecting pollutants
● Quality Control: Analyzing materials in industry

2. Rainbow Formation

Process:

1. Sunlight enters water droplet

2. Dispersion occurs at entry point
3. Internal reflection at back of droplet
4. Further dispersion at exit point
5. Observer sees separated colors

Conditions for Rainbow:

● Sun behind observer

● Water droplets in air (rain, mist, spray)
● Sun angle less than 42° above horizon

Types of Rainbows:

● Primary Rainbow: Single internal reflection (bright, red on outside)

● Secondary Rainbow: Double internal reflection (dimmer, red on inside)

3. Optical Instruments
Prism Binoculars:

● Use prisms to correct image orientation

● Prism quality affects color fidelity

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● Achromatic prisms reduce color fringing

Cameras and Lenses:

● Chromatic Aberration: Different colors focus at different points

● Achromatic Lenses: Combine different glass types to reduce dispersion
● Apochromatic Lenses: Correct for multiple wavelengths

4. Optical Communications
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM):

● Different colors carry different information channels

● Prisms or gratings separate/combine wavelengths
● Increases fiber optic communication capacity

5. Lighting and Display Technology

LED Technology:

● Different semiconductor materials emit different colors

● White LEDs combine multiple colors or use phosphors
● RGB displays use additive color mixing

Laser Technology:

● Prisms used in laser beam shaping

● Dispersion compensation in ultrafast lasers
● Spectral beam combining

PROBLEMS AND CALCULATIONS

Problem 1: Prism Deviation
A ray of white light is incident on a 60° prism at an angle of 40°. If the refractive indices for red and
violet light are 1.513 and 1.532 respectively, calculate the angular dispersion.

Solution: For minimum deviation condition: δ = 2i - A, where A = 60°

For red light (nᵣ = 1.513): Using Snell's law and prism formula: δᵣ = 37.2°

For violet light (nᵥ = 1.532): δᵥ = 39.1°

Angular dispersion = δᵥ - δᵣ = 39.1° - 37.2° = 1.9°

Problem 2: Dispersive Power

Calculate the dispersive power of a glass prism if nᵣ = 1.513, nᵥ = 1.532, and n_yellow = 1.517.

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Solution: ω = (nᵥ - nᵣ)/(n_yellow - 1) ω = (1.532 - 1.513)/(1.517 - 1) ω = 0.019/0.517 = 0.037

Problem 3: Color Mixing

White light passes through a red filter followed by a green filter. What color emerges?

Solution:

● Red filter transmits only red light, absorbs green and blue
● Green filter transmits only green light, absorbs red and blue
● Since red light cannot pass through green filter, no light emerges
● Answer: Black (no light transmitted)

REVISION QUESTIONS
1. Define dispersion and explain why it occurs when white light passes through a prism.
2. Draw a ray diagram showing the dispersion of white light by a prism, labeling all colors in
the correct order.
3. Compare pure and impure spectra in terms of:
○ Appearance
○ Conditions for production
○ Applications
4. Explain why a red rose appears black when viewed under green light.
5. Describe the difference between additive and subtractive color mixing with examples.
6. Calculate the dispersive power of a material given the refractive indices for different colors.
7. Explain how rainbows are formed and why they appear in a specific order of colors.
8. Discuss three practical applications of dispersion in modern technology.
9. Predict the apparent color of various objects under different colored lights.
10. Explain why achromatic lenses are needed in high-quality optical instruments.

SUMMARY
Key Concepts ● Wavelength Order: Red (longest) to
Violet (shortest)
1. Dispersion: Separation of white light ● Refractive Index: Increases with
into constituent colors decreasing wavelength
2. Spectrum: Arrangement of colors in ● Deviation: Greatest for violet, least
order of wavelength for red
3. Pure Spectrum: Sharp, distinct color ● Complementary Colors: Combine to
separation produce white light
4. Impure Spectrum: Overlapping,
blurred colors
5. Object Color: Determined by
reflected wavelengths
6. Color Mixing: Additive (light) vs
Subtractive (pigments)

Important Relationships

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