In dispersion of white light by a prism, which color is bent the least?

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Multiple Choice

In dispersion of white light by a prism, which color is bent the least?

Explanation:
Dispersion happens because a prism refracts different wavelengths by different amounts. The bending depends on how much each wavelength slows down in the glass, which is set by the refractive index for that wavelength. In typical glass, shorter wavelengths have a higher refractive index and slow more, so they bend more. Red light has the smallest refractive index among visible colors, so it deviates the least as it passes through the prism. The other colors—blue, green, and yellow—have higher indices and bend more, creating the familiar spectrum. So red is bent the least.

Dispersion happens because a prism refracts different wavelengths by different amounts. The bending depends on how much each wavelength slows down in the glass, which is set by the refractive index for that wavelength. In typical glass, shorter wavelengths have a higher refractive index and slow more, so they bend more. Red light has the smallest refractive index among visible colors, so it deviates the least as it passes through the prism. The other colors—blue, green, and yellow—have higher indices and bend more, creating the familiar spectrum. So red is bent the least.

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