Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A prism is a transparent object with flat, polished surfaces that can refract (bend) light. When white light passes through a prism, it separates into its component colors due to the different wavelengths of each color.
Related terms
Refraction: Refraction is when light bends or changes direction as it passes from one medium to another. In the case of a prism, refraction occurs as white light enters and exits the prism's surfaces.
Wavelength refers to the distance between two corresponding points on adjacent waves of light. Each color has its own wavelength, which determines how much it will bend when passing through a prism.
Dispersion: Dispersion is the phenomenon where white light separates into its component colors when passing through a material or object like a prism. It happens because each color's wavelength bends at a slightly different angle.