This is a demonstration of the dispersion of light through a prism. Dispersion is the dependence of the index of refraction of light on its wavelength, and results in different colors of light refracting through a prism at different angles, which spreads white light into its component colors.
This demonstration was created at Utah State University by Professor Boyd F. Edwards, assisted by James Coburn (demonstration specialist), David Evans (videography), and Rebecca Whitney (closed captions), with support from Jan Sojka, Physics Department Head, and Robert Wagner, Executive Vice Provost and Dean of Academic and Instructional Services.
