1. Dispersion
Dispersion splits white light in a prism. Red bends least; violet bends most.
Dispersion & color mixing
White light through a prism; mixing colored lights.
Light phenomenaReflection, intro refraction, mirrors and lenses.
Start here
Dispersion & color mixing
Explore dispersion and color mixing on a realistic 3D prism bench: a prism fans white light into a spectrum; RGB lights mix to yellow, cyan, magenta, and white.
Memory cue: prism spectrum · RGB additive mixing.
How to use
- Dispersion mode: watch the spectrum after the prism on the 3D bench.
- Mixing mode: toggle R/G/B and see additive colors.
- Read the guide: lights add; paints subtract.
Read next
Related knowledge
Read section by section — and check spectrum vs RGB mixing on the 3D prism bench.
2. Why
- Glass has different n for different colors.
- Violet has larger n → larger bend.
3. Mixing lights
- R+G→yellow; G+B→cyan; R+B→magenta; all→white (additive).
- Paint mixing is subtractive — different from light.
4. Rainbow & pitfalls
Rainbows form via refraction, reflection, and dispersion in droplets. White light is composite — but refraction ≠ dispersion in general.
Applications
- Rainbows, prism spectra, and spectroscopy come from dispersion.
- Coatings and displays must manage chromatic effects from dispersion.
FAQ
Is dispersion the same as refraction?
Dispersion is refraction with wavelength-dependent n — related, but not identical ideas.
Why does a prism show colors from white light?
Different wavelengths refract by different amounts.
What does the “Dispersion & color mixing” lab practice?
Tune parameters and match readouts to the “Dispersion & color mixing” relations — useful for prep and demos.
Real vs virtual image?
Real images can form on a screen; virtual ones cannot — view by eye along rays.