Guide Questions: 1. Which color spectrum has the longest wavelength? 2. Which color spectrum has the shortest wavelength? 3. In a prism, which color is least bent? 4. Which color is most bent? 5. How do you relate the arrangement of colors of the visible light spectrum to its wavelength?
red As the full spectrum of visible light travels through a prism, the wavelengths separate into the colors of the rainbow because each color is a different wavelength. Violet has the shortest wavelength, at around 380 nanometers, and red has the longest wavelength, at around 700 nanometers.
violet light Blue or violet light has the shortest wavelength. White light is a combination of all colors in the color spectrum. It has all the colors of the rainbow.
red light Since violet light has a shorter wavelength, it is slowed more than the longer wavelengths of red light. Consequently, violet light is bent the most while red light is bent the least. This separation of white light into its individual colors is known as dispersion of light.
violet light Each beam of light, with its own particular wavelength (or color), is slowed differently by the glass. Since violet light has a shorter wavelength, it is slowed more than the longer wavelengths of red light. Consequently, violet light is bent the most while red light is bent the least.
As the full spectrum of visible light travels through a prism, the wavelengths separate into the colors of the rainbow because each color is a different wavelength. Violet has the shortest wavelength, at around 380 nanometers, and red has the longest wavelength, at around 700 nanometers.
