ANSWER KEY — CH 6: SPECTRUM (ICSE Class

10)
🔹 QUESTION BANK 1
SECTION A (c) Spectrum → (iv) Dispersion (result of)
(d) Glass prism → (ii) Least speed (for violet;
1. MCQs dispersing medium)
(i) B. Red (e) White light → (v) Composite light
(ii) C. Dispersion
(iii) A. Violet – least wavelength 5. Draw Diagrams
(iv) D. Reflection at faces (i) Triangle prism: incident white ray → refracts,
(v) B. Broad slit and no lens splits inside → emergent fan VIBGYOR on screen;
label i, r, D, base.
2. Fill in the blanks (ii) Show two emergent rays: red least deviation
(i) Red (upper), violet most (lower) for standard orientation.
(ii) Spectrum (continuous spectrum for white light)
(iii) Variation of refractive index with wavelength 6. Give Reason
(material dispersion) (i) Narrow slit gives nearly parallel rays →
(iv) Angle of deviation minimizes overlap → sharper (purer) spectrum.
(v) More (ii) Curved spectrum due to lens chromatic
aberration/focal length varying with colour → focus
3. True/False + Correct lies along an arc.
(i) False – Needs refraction (and in nature, refraction (iii) Red deviates least: larger wavelength → lower
+ internal reflection). refractive index in glass → smaller bending.
(ii) False – Violet travels slower than red in glass.
(iii) False – White light is composite; a pure 7. Name the following
spectrum is non-overlapping. (i) Violet
(iv) True (ii) Continuous spectrum
(v) True (iii) Dispersion (with refraction + internal
reflection in rainbows)
4. Match the following
(a) Red → (iii) Maximum wavelength 8. Odd one out + Reason
(b) Violet → (i) Highest deviation (i) Black – not a spectral colour.
(ii) Mirror – reflects; others are refracting media.

SECTION B (Key points to earn full marks)

Q1. (i) Real: seen on screen; Impure: colours Q3. (i) Deviation (D) = angle between incident and
overlap without lens/narrow slit. emergent rays.
(ii) Use narrow slit → collimating convex lens → (ii) Pure: non-overlapping, needs lens + narrow slit;
prism → focusing lens → screen; slit at focal plane Impure: overlapping band.
for parallel rays. (iii) Plastic prism: smaller μ, smaller dispersion
(iii) Neat prism ray diagram with labelled i, r₁, r₂, D; than glass → shorter/fainter spread (material-
emergent spread VIBGYOR. dependent).
(iv) Monochromatic light: no dispersion; single
Q2. (i) White light has all wavelengths → shows deviated ray only.

(ii) Higher refractive index & stronger dispersion ⇒

dispersion; mono won’t split.

material → different refraction angles ⇒ dispersion.

Q4. (i) Different colours have different speeds/μ in a

(ii) Violet bends more: shorter λ ⇒ larger μ (normal

greater angular spread; μ varies with λ.

speeds, μᵥ>μᵣ ⇒ violet deviates more, red less.

(iii) In air: same speed, different λ; in glass: lower
dispersion) ⇒ larger refraction by Huygens/μ–λ
decreases ⇒ different phase speeds ⇒ different
Q6. (i) Wave theory: v = c/μ(λ), μ increases as λ
relation.
bending.
Q5. (i) Shows that white is composite; splitting (ii) Second prism inverted: recombines (cancels
reveals constituents. dispersion and deviation if matched); draw two
(ii) Convex lens: focuses diverging colour rays to opposite prisms with white emergent ray.
sharp, resolved spectrum on screen.
(iii) Only 3 colours: broad slit / weak source / poor
collimation / dirty prism / small screen distance.

🔹 QUESTION BANK 2
SECTION A

1. MCQs mapping is impossible; state intended facts)

(i) C. Refraction at two angled surfaces (b) Violet → (ii) Maximum deviation
(ii) B. Narrow slit, prism, convex lens, screen (c) Convex lens → (iii) Used to focus spectrum
(iii) D. All but yellow (sodium gives dominant (d) Air → (iv) Same speed for all colours
yellow; spectrum largely missing others) (e) Dispersion → (v) Splitting of white light
(iv) B. Wavelength (Note: Red is fastest in glass, but that choice isn’t
(v) C. Rainbow present—no perfect pair for (a) in the provided B-
list.)
2. Fill in the blanks
(i) Dispersion 5. Diagrams
(ii) Deviation (i) Prism with i, A, D labelled; emergent fan V→R.
(iii) Not parallel (except at minimum deviation (ii) Slit–prism–screen showing overlapping impure
special case; generally not parallel) band.
(iv) The same
(v) Refraction and internal reflection 6. Reasons
(i) Without convex lens, colours aren’t focused →
3. True/False + Correct overlap; not pure.
(i) False – Red bends least; violet most. (ii) Prism has non-parallel refracting surfaces +
(ii) False – Natural (rainbow) is a spectrum. μ(λ) → splits; slab has parallel faces → no net
(iii) True – to focus/resolve colours. angular separation.
(iv) True – e.g., raindrops or diffraction gratings; (iii) Two refractions at angled faces cause net
prism not strictly necessary. deviation not parallel to incident ray (except at a
(v) False – Needs a dispersive medium; in vacuum μ special i for minimum deviation).
is 1 for all λ.
7. Name
4. Match (i) Red (least bending)
(a) Red → (i) Slowest in glass ❌ (Correct is (ii) Spectroscope/prism (with collimator + lens)
“fastest”); but given options force: use (iv) Same (iii) Spectrum (VIBGYOR/continuous)
speed for all colours for Air; so mapping is:
(a) Red → (v) Splitting of white light? ❌ 8. Odd one out
👉 Correct full mapping: (i) White – not a single spectral colour (composite).
(a) Red → (iv) Same speed for all colours (only true (ii) Echo – reflection of sound, not light
in air; but A/B sets constrain—if strict, better phenomenon.

SECTION B (Key points)

Q1. Deviation = change in direction; Dispersion = Diagram with two refractions explains splitting.
separation of colours. Factors for D: i, A, μ.
Q2. Pure vs impure: overlap vs resolved; prisms are Q4. Critical angle: not essential for forming
robust/easy in school vs grating alignment. Curved spectrum; affects internal reflection paths only. No
spectrum: chromatic aberration of lens → focal arc. dispersion in vacuum (μ=1 for all λ). Rotating prism
shifts D and spread; blue LED (narrow-band) gives
Q3. μ increases as λ decreases → different narrow/one-colour streak.

higher μ ⇒ larger angular dispersion (ΔD ≈

speeds/paths (wave model). Larger prism angle A or
Q5. Light bends twice (air→glass, glass→air) with
(dμ/dλ)·A). different normals; diagrams to show. Rainbow links:
refraction + internal reflection + dispersion in
drops → continuous spectrum like prism.

🔹 QUESTION BANK 3
SECTION A

1. MCQs (b) Violet → (ii) Highest frequency

(i) C. Red – Least (c) Spectrum → (iii) Band of colours
(ii) D. Deviation increases (till near minimum- (d) Prism → (iv) Angular deviation
deviation conditions; generally with i↑, D first ↓ to (e) Dispersion → (v) Different speeds in medium
Dmin then ↑)
(iii) B. Less deviation (water has lower μ than glass 5. Diagrams
→ smaller D; dispersion also generally less) (i) Standard prism with VIBGYOR fan, label D.
(iv) C. To focus the rays (ii) Two prisms oppositely placed recombining to
(v) C. Neon lamp (line/discontinuous) white.

2. Fill in the blanks 6. Reasons

(i) Continuous (i) Non-parallel faces cause net deviation.
(ii) Green (ii) Lens focuses to resolve colours.
(iii) Deviation and dispersion (iii) Curvature from chromatic aberration (different
(iv) Less (violet speed is less than red) f for colours).
(v) Negligible/almost same (air μ≈1 for all colours)
7. Name
3. True/False + Correct (i) Violet
(i) False – Any polychromatic light disperses. (ii) Red (least frequency)
(ii) False – Lenses refract; prism does main (iii) Emergent face (or point on screen where rays
dispersion. meet after lens)
(iii) True
(iv) Partly misleading – It’s due to higher μ, not just 8. Odd one out
“density”; correct: light slows due to higher μ. (i) Noise – not a colour.
(v) True – Frequency is invariant across media. (ii) Amplification – not a wave-propagation path
effect for light.
4. Match
(a) Red → (i) Longest wavelength

SECTION B (Key points)

variation ⇒ stronger dispersion. Sunlight is

Q1. Diamond (higher μ, higher dispersion) → larger Q2. Refractive index: μ = c/v; stronger μ(λ)
D and spread. Dᵥ > Dᵣ; rainbow: refraction +
internal reflection + dispersion in raindrops vs broadband and intense → ideal. Rough edges cause
single prism refraction. scattering/blur. Blue filter → only blue band
appears.
Q3. Shorter λ ⇒ higher μ ⇒ more deviation (wave Two opposite prisms: recombination to white
theory). Inverted VIBGYOR causes: flipped prism (Achromatic pair idea).
orientation / image inversion by lens / screen
placement—correct by proper orientation and Q5. Distinguish via single slit + change to grating:
focusing. diffraction depends on grating pitch, angular
maxima formula; prism dispersion scales with μ(λ)
Q4. Prisms differ by μ and dμ/dλ. A concave lens and persists without slits. LED torch:
after prism defocuses → broader, dimmer spectrum. multi-peak/poor continuum → weak/patchy
spectrum.

🔹 QUESTION BANK 4 (Moderate/Twisted)

SECTION A

1. MCQs not always.

(i) A. Its frequency (equivalently wavelength; μ (v) True – If μ is same for all λ, no dispersion.
depends on λ/f)
(ii) C. Red (exits nearer base; violet nearer apex) 4. Match
(iii) C. Convex (a) Red light → (i) Central colour ❌ (correct:
(iv) C. Temperature of surroundings (minor effect appears top; central is green)
at school level) Use corrected mapping:
(v) C. Slit is narrow (a) Red light → (iv) Colour band (imperfect;
intended: “top colour”)
2. Fill in the blanks (b) Glass prism → (ii) Dispersing medium
(i) Real and continuous (c) Green → (iii) Middle wavelength (central
(ii) Angular dispersion colour)
(iii) Seven (d) VIBGYOR → (iv) Colour band
(iv) Shortest (violet) (e) Convex lens → (v) Focus spectrum
(v) Changed (not parallel to incident) (Note: Given B-list lacks “top colour”; mark as above
with note.)
3. True/False + Correct
(i) False – Two refracting surfaces. 5. Name
(ii) False – Violet has higher frequency. (i) Violet
(iii) False – It includes all spectral colours, not just (ii) Red
primaries. (iii) Rainbow
(iv) False – Curvature arises from lens aberration, (iv) Prism
(v) Green

SECTION B (Key points)

Q1. Dispersion: splitting of white into VIBGYOR separate. Conditions: narrow slit, good collimation,
(e.g., prism/rainbow). Screen makes spectrum dark room, clean optics, adequate distance.
visible/measurable. Pure spectrum setup: narrow
slit–collimator lens–prism–focusing lens–screen. Q4. Rainbow vs prism: both continuous; rainbow
uses raindrops with internal reflection. Lasers
Q2. Red bends least: higher λ → lower μ. Refraction (mono) won’t disperse into VIBGYOR.
vs dispersion: direction change vs colour
separation. Reverse with second, inverted prism Q5. Water prism: smaller μ & dispersion → shorter,
(recombination). fainter spread. Energy E=hf: violet > red. Fewer than
7 colours: broad slit/weak intensity/short
Q3. Deviation depends on μ, A, i. Slab has parallel throw/dirty optics.
faces → no net dispersion. Convex lens focuses to
🔹 QUESTION BANK 5 (Twisted/UPSC-style)
SECTION A

1. MCQs edges/slits, dispersion from μ(λ).

(i) B. Different speeds due to varying frequencies (v) False – It’s due to shorter wavelength → higher
(equivalently: wavelength-dependence) μ, not amplitude.
(ii) C. Uniform deviation without separation
(iii) A. Wavelength 4. Match (Hidden links)
(iv) C. Laser is monochromatic (a) Zero deviation → (i) Symmetric refraction
(v) B. Inverted (reverses orientation) (minimum deviation condition)
(b) Prism material → (ii) Refractive index
2. Fill in the blanks (c) Curved spectrum → (iii) Convex focusing
(i) Dispersive power / μ(λ) (chromatic aberration)
(ii) speed (and refractive index) (d) Pure spectrum → (iv) Narrow slit and convex
(iii) Monochromatic lens
(iv) Two (e) Inverted spectrum → (v) Reversed prism
(v) material (μ) and geometry (angles of
incidence/faces) 5. Identify the Error
(i) Broad slit causes overlap → not pure.
3. True/False – Justify (ii) False – Violet deviates more (μᵥ>μᵣ).

(ii) True – μwater < μglass ⇒ v higher in water.

(i) True – One colour → no splitting. (iii) Dark bands: line-source/absorption lines/dirty
optics or diffraction from slit.
(iii) False – In space you still need the prism (the (iv) Metal sheet won’t show transmission spectrum;
medium is inside the prism). use screen/paper.
(iv) False – Different phenomena; diffraction from (v) Yes – D and spread change with prism rotation
(changes i and geometry).

SECTION B (Key points)

Q1. As i varies, D goes through a minimum (Dmin); sunrise/sunset (scattering dominant) with slight
sharpness best near collimation; length/spread ↑ with refraction; spectrum would be subtle dispersion
distance and dispersion. Unknown material: observe towards horizon.
presence/size of angular spread with white light;
compare to reference glass. Q4. Ultra-fast pulses: temporal chirp after prism
due to group-velocity dispersion → colours separate
Q2. Photon energy E=hf doesn’t set bending in time/space. Detect IR/UV: use
directly; μ(λ) does. Plane mirror: only reflection (no sensors/fluorescent screens/photographic
μ change) so no dispersion. Violet into reversed plates/UV paper after prism.
prism: remerges as violet (no recombination with
single colour). Interference + dispersion can co- Q5. Vertical spectrum: rotated prism/screen
occur if slits present and μ(λ) varies. orientation/lens axis tilt. On Moon (vacuum
outside): prism still disperses (medium inside
Q3. Refraction is necessary (change of medium) but prism). Only red & blue visible: narrow-band
insufficient (needs μ dependent on λ). Higher source/filters misused/wrong focus → fix by white
temperature generally reduces μ, slightly reducing source, correct collimation, proper lens focus.
dispersion. Atmosphere as prism: reddish

🔹 Diagram-Based Answers (what to show + key marking points)

1. Dispersion through triangular prism (3) 5. Label red and violet (3)

emergent VIBGYOR fan; mark ∠i and ∠D between

Show incident white ray at angle i, refraction inside, Top: red (least deviation), bottom: violet (most);
reason: μᵥ>μᵣ (λᵣ>λᵥ).
incident and emergent.
6. Impure spectrum & overlap (4)
2. Red more deviated than violet (4) Draw broad overlapped band; to purify: narrow slit,
Draw spectrum inverted wrongly; explain error proper collimation, focusing lens, increase throw
(prism flipped/diagram label wrong). Not a normal distance.
spectrum: correct is violet most deviated.
7. Three-prism arrangement (5)
3. Inverted prism recombination (5) Central dispersing prism + two flanking prisms to
Two identical prisms oppositely placed: first cancel net deviation but maintain dispersion (or
disperses, second recombines → white emergent; vice-versa) — direct-vision spectroscope idea.
principle: equal and opposite dispersion.
8. Rectangular glass slab, lateral shift (4)
4. Pure spectrum setup (5) Ray refracts in, emerges parallel to incident → no
Slit at collimator lens focus → parallel rays to prism deviation but lateral displacement. No dispersion:
→ focusing lens → screen. Roles: Slit (narrow parallel faces undo angular separation.
source), Lens 1 (collimate), Prism (disperse), Lens 2
(focus/resolve), Screen (receive).