Chapter 6: Dispersion
Why did we see many
colors (Dispersion) from
the white Light after
refracted by Prism?
1
Dispersion of White Light
• Dispersion is the splitting up of white light
into seven colors on passing through a
transparent medium like a glass prism.
• A band of seven colors are formed
(Dispersion) is known as spectrum of
white light.
• Then shows that white light is a mixture
of seven colors (or seven colored light).
2
Natural experiments
Newton color wheel
What we can
state about
white light?
3
Reason for dispersion
• The dispersion of light occurs because the angle
of refraction (or the angle of bending) of lights
• Since different colors (wavelengths) is different of
refraction when passing through the transparent
medium (prism).
• The red color is deviated least (small refractive
angle), so it forms the upper part of the spectrum .
4
Learning check
• Check true or false for each sentences
• 1- The rainbow is an dispersion of seven colors
visible in the sky.
• 2- A rainbow is produced by the scattering of
sunlight by water drops in the atmosphere.
• 3- In rainbow, each raindrop acts as a glass
prism splitting the sunlight into a spectrum.
• 4- The short wavelength color is deviated least,
so it forms the upper part of the spectrum
• 5- When different colors was passing through
the transparent medium (prism), this prism has
different refractive index for each color.
5
Dispersion property
………….wavelengths are
“bent” more than
…………. wavelengths
dispersion
Light is ………….. and the resultant colors separate
(dispersion).
Red is ……….. refracted, violet ………………….refracted.
Different wavelengths get different ………………… 6
Refractive index VS wavelength
• Different wavelengths get different refractive
index (same prism, same incident angle)
• n = f()
• Changing of n can be shown by:
n 2 n1 dn
D
2 1 d
• Called Dispersion coefficient
7
Learning check
• Compute: Dispersion coefficient
•Snail Law: n1sini=[Link]
For real rain bow here: (Same incident angle)
For red (760 nm) refractive angle is 30 degree
8
For violet (380 nm) refractive angle is 36 degree
Formula of dispersion coefficient
• Dispersion coefficient :
n 2 n1 dn
D
2 1 d
•Snail Law: n1sini = [Link]
• If (small) n (large)
• For non absorbing media: use Cauchy
b c d
n a 2 4 6 ...
here : a , b, c, d 0 9
Compute D
• Use the Cauchy law to compute the
dispersion coefficient
b c d
n a 2 4 6 ...
dn 2b
Then : D 3 0
d
10
Normal dispersion
• If (small) n (large)
n
1.7 glass
Compute the value
of b for SiO2 from
the plot given ?
1.6
SiO2
1.5 Fluarit
1.4
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
(10-6m)
11
Dispersion curve
n
How can you think that Xianin have the B
Same properties as SiO2 2.2
Xianin
A
Can you check three components 1.8
1) Curve: AB
D
2) Curve BC 1.4
C
3) Curve CD 1.0
.68 .64 .60 .51 .44 (10-6m)
For AB and CD we call non-normal
dispersion
12
Exercise
n
• For Curve CD B
• Can you use : 2.2
Xianin
n = a1. +a2 A
1.8
D
To find a1 and a2 1.4
C
1.0
.68 .64 .60 .51 .44 (10-6m)
13
Application of dispersion
• In spectrometer to splitting up of white
light by Prism
L1 L2 P1
P2
L3
S2 S1
Violet Red 14