Dispersion is the phenomenon where light separates into its constituent colors when passing through a medium. It occurs because different wavelengths of light are refracted by different amounts.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Dispersion causes the formation of a spectrum when white light passes through a prism.
The degree of dispersion depends on the refractive index of the medium and the wavelength of light.
Shorter wavelengths (blue/violet) are refracted more than longer wavelengths (red).
Dispersion is crucial in various optical instruments, including microscopes, as it affects image clarity and color accuracy.
Chromatic aberration in lenses is a result of dispersion, leading to color fringes around images.