Dispersion is the process by which white light separates into its component colors when passing through a medium, like a prism. It occurs because different wavelengths of light refract by different amounts.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Dispersion causes the formation of a spectrum from white light.
Different wavelengths of light refract at different angles, leading to dispersion.
In astronomy, dispersion helps analyze the composition and properties of celestial objects.
Spectrometers utilize dispersion to separate incoming light into spectra for study.
The amount of dispersion depends on the refractive index of the medium and the wavelength of light.