How does a prism split white light into its components?

A prism splits white light into its component colors through the process of refraction and dispersion. Here’s how it works:

Step-by-Step Process:

1. White light enters the prism:
   White light is a mixture of all visible wavelengths (colors). When it enters a prism (usually made of glass or transparent plastic), it slows down and bends due to refraction. This happens because the prism is denser than air.
2. Dispersion occurs:
   Different colors (wavelengths) of light bend by different amounts.
   • Violet light (shorter wavelength) bends the most.
   • Red light (longer wavelength) bends the least.
3. Separation of colors:
   Because of this varying bending, the colors spread out inside the prism. This is called dispersion.
4. Light exits the prism:
   As the light exits the other side of the prism, it is refracted again. The separated colors emerge in a fan-like arrangement forming a spectrum — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (ROYGBIV).

Result:

The prism turns white light into a rainbow of colors, showing that white light is composed of multiple wavelengths.

This phenomenon is similar to what happens in a rainbow, where water droplets act like tiny prisms in the sky.