answersLogoWhite

0

When light passes through a medium, like water or glass, it hits almost every atom in the medium. But by "hits" i mean that it has the possibility to interact. If the wavelength of the light is exactly that which the material likes, then it absorbs it. If the wavelength is "close" to that wavelength, then is absorbs some of the light. This is why water is clear in small quantities like a cup, but is blue in large quantities like the sky. The part of light that it absorbs is more red than blue and so the left over is more blue than red.

But the process of "absorbing part" as spoken above, does not leave the light on its original trajectory. Instead it bends the trajectory and this bending process, when applied through many layers of a medium, is what we call "dispersion"

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

Why dispersion do not take place through glass slab?

Dispersion does not occur in a glass slab because the different colors of light all travel at the same speed in the glass medium. Since dispersion is the phenomenon where different colors of light travel at different speeds, it does not occur when light passes through a homogeneous medium like a glass slab.


Why does a ray of light passing through a glass slab not show dispersion?

Actually a glass slab is made up of two triangular prisms placed inverted to one another. So dispersion taking place by the first prism is counter acted by the inverted prism and hence no dispersion is seen on a whole


Why does a ray of light passing through the glass slab not show dispersion?

White light is actually a combination of all of the colors of all of the rainbow. It splits in a prism because the prism can pick up the differences. However, it will not in a glass slab because the slab is smooth and will not reflect all of the different colors of light.


What is a term used to describe how crowded the place is?

Population density is a term used to describe how crowded a place is based on the number of people per unit of area.


How can you make your own rainbow at home using simple materials?

To make your own rainbow at home, you can fill a glass of water and place it near a window where sunlight can pass through. Then, place a mirror in the water at an angle so that it reflects the sunlight onto a white surface, like a piece of paper or a wall. This should create a rainbow effect due to the refraction and dispersion of light.

Related Questions

How are refraction and dispersion demonstrate light?

They don't demonstrate light; they assume that you have light in the first place.


Why dispersion do not take place through glass slab?

Dispersion does not occur in a glass slab because the different colors of light all travel at the same speed in the glass medium. Since dispersion is the phenomenon where different colors of light travel at different speeds, it does not occur when light passes through a homogeneous medium like a glass slab.


What does Tennessee mean?

doesit mean anything It is believed to mean: The Bends Place.


Why does a ray of light passing through a glass slab not show dispersion?

Actually a glass slab is made up of two triangular prisms placed inverted to one another. So dispersion taking place by the first prism is counter acted by the inverted prism and hence no dispersion is seen on a whole


How can you combine the seven colour of light which come out of a glass prism of dispersion?

Place another prism upside-down next to the first one! http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/newton/


Why does dispersion take place in only a prism and not in a glass slab?

The light strikes on one surface of the prism undergoes refraction and passes through the glass of the prism, and when emerges out, it refracts again. This causes the dispersion of the light and splits the light into its constituent colours. The degree of bending depends on the angle at which the ray of light enters and leaves the faces of the prism. The faces of the prism are not parallel to each other. For a glass slab, the opposite faces of the slab are parallel. So only a slight deviation occurs.


How do you describe a loud place?

You might describe a loud place as a 'noisy' place. It is the opposite of a tranquil or a peaceful place.


What is lyophillic colloids?

Lyophilic collids molecules are more attracted to the dispersion medium then the particles themselves there by coagulation does not takes place


What happens when light travels into a prism?

As light incidents normally then nothing happens. But if light is incident at an acute angle with one refracting face then composite white light gets dispersed while coming out of the other refracting face. Usually as light is incident at an acute angle even in a glass slab then dispersion tales place as refractive index of the glass is different for different colours and so having different angle of refraction. But as it has to emerge out of the slab at the opposite face there once again all colours get mingled and only white light comes out. But in case of prism that chance is missing and so dispersion leads to have VIBGYOR


What words describe Colombia?

words to describe colombia are: interesting, a different place, and a place to discuss about.


What' legendary place did the Indians describe to the greedy Spaniards?

what legendary place did the indians describe to to the greey spainards


What legendary place the Indians describe to the greedy Spaniards?

what legendary place did the indians describe to to the greey spainards