Dispersion of Light Quiz with Answers: Test Your Knowledge

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🌈 Dispersion: The splitting of white light into its constituent colors (spectrum) when it passes through a prism or other refractive medium.
• 🍎 Cause: Different wavelengths of light experience different refractive indices in the medium.
• 📈 Refractive Index: Violet light bends the most (highest refractive index), and red light bends the least (lowest refractive index).
• 📏 Wavelength Relation: The angle of deviation depends on the wavelength ($\lambda$) of the light. Shorter wavelengths (like violet) deviate more.
• ✨ Formula: Snell's Law: $n_1\sin(\theta_1) = n_2\sin(\theta_2)$, where $n$ is the refractive index and $\theta$ is the angle of incidence/refraction.
• 🌦️ Real-world example: Rainbow formation is a classic example of dispersion.
• 💡 Key Concept: The refractive index ($n$) is inversely proportional to the speed of light ($v$) in the medium: $n = \frac{c}{v}$, where $c$ is the speed of light in a vacuum.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the best definition of dispersion of light?
   1. A. The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
   2. B. The splitting of white light into its component colors.
   3. C. The reflection of light off a smooth surface.
   4. D. The absorption of light by a material.
2. What causes the dispersion of white light when it passes through a prism?
   1. A. All colors of light have the same speed in the prism.
   2. B. Different colors of light have different speeds in the prism.
   3. C. The prism absorbs certain colors of light.
   4. D. The prism emits different colors of light.
3. Which color of light bends the *most* when white light passes through a prism?
   1. A. Red
   2. B. Orange
   3. C. Green
   4. D. Violet
4. Which color of light has the *longest* wavelength?
   1. A. Violet
   2. B. Blue
   3. C. Yellow
   4. D. Red
5. What phenomenon in nature is a direct result of dispersion?
   1. A. An eclipse
   2. B. A rainbow
   3. C. A sunset
   4. D. A shadow
6. According to Snell's Law, which of the following affects the angle of refraction?
   1. A. Only the angle of incidence
   2. B. Only the refractive indices of the media
   3. C. Both the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the media
   4. D. Neither the angle of incidence nor the refractive indices of the media
7. The refractive index of a material is inversely proportional to:
   1. A. The wavelength of light.
   2. B. The frequency of light.
   3. C. The speed of light in the material.
   4. D. The intensity of light.