Chapter 8. Spectrum

Dispersion and Recombination of White Light

* The angle between the two refracting faces of a prism is called the angle of the prism or refracting angle ‘A’.
* The angle between the incident ray and the emergent ray is called the angle of the deviation‘d’.

The angle of deviation depends on:

   *  The angle of incidence for A given colours is called dispersion.
   *  The angle of the prism
   *  The colour of the light incident on the prism
   *  The material of the prism

* The splitting of white light into its constituent’s colours is called dispersion.

* When white light passes through a prism, a band of seven colours obtained, which is called the spectrum.
* A rainbow is a natural spectrum that occurs in the sky.
* Human Eye and Colourful World- Dispersion and scattering of Light
* A prism is a piece of glass or any other transparent material, having two triangular and three rectangular faces.

A light ray refract twice as it propagates through a prism.

   *  Refracting surface are the rectangular faces of triangular prism.
   *  The refracting edge is the line along which the two refracting surface meet.
   *  The angle of a prism is the angle between the two refracting faces. It is denoted by capital letter A.
   *  The base of the prism is one of the rectangular faces of prism that does not take part in refraction.
   *  The incident ray is the ray of light that is incident on a refracting surface.
   *  Thee refracted ray is the ray that deviates at the point of incidence and travel inside the prism between two refracting surfaces.
   *  The emergent ray is the light ray emerging from the prism after refraction.
   *  Angle of incidence is the angle formed between the refracted ray and the normal at the point of incidence.
   *  Angle of refraction is the angle between the normal and the refracted ray at the point of incidence.
   *  Angle of deviation is the angel between the incident ray. It is represented Greek letter δ or θd or D.
   * Dispersion is the splitting of light into its constituents, revealing different colours depending on the wavelengths.
   * Atmospheric refraction is the apparent random wavering or flickering of object seen due to inconsistency in the physical conditions of the refracting medium such as air.
   * Scattering is the deviation of light rays from its straight path.
   * Tyndall effect is the scattering of a light beam by colloidal particles, illuminating the path of the beam.
   * The Tyndall beam is the illuminated path of a light beam in a colloidal solution.

Electromagnetic Spectrum


* Electromagnetic waves just beyond the red region of the visible spectrum are
called infrared radiations.
* Electromagnetic waves just beyond the violet region of the spectrum are called ultraviolet radiations.
* Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, which are mutually perpendicular to each other and also perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
* Gamma radiations are used in medicine for cancer treatment and also in industries to check welding.
* X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool.
* UV rays are being used in a variety of applications such as Lasik eye surgery, water purifiers and fake note detectors.
* Infrared rays are used to track diseases on crop by remote sensing.
* Infrared rays are used in photography at night, and also in mist fog, as they are not scattered much because of their very long wavelengths.
* Microwaves are used in microwave ovens to cook or heat food or liquids.
* Microwaves are also used in the field of communication.
* Radio waves are used in radar communication, in radio and television communication and in cellular phone communication networks.

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