Rays of prism in Human Eye and Colourful World – Class 10 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Human Eye and Colourful World

Activity Name: Rays of prism in Human Eye and Colourful World

Activity Description:

This experiment involves using a prism to split white light into its component colors and observing the effects of refraction.

Required Items:

Prism, thin wooden plank, white light source, a vertical white wall, dark room.

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Set up the experiment in a dark room.
2. Place the prism on the table near a vertical white wall.
3. Take the thin wooden plank and make a small hole in it. Fix it vertically on the table.
4. Position the prism between the wooden plank and the wall.
5. Place a white light source behind the hole of the wooden plank and switch it on.
6. The light passing through the hole will become a narrow beam of light after passing through the prism.
7. Adjust the height of the prism so that the light falls on one of the lateral surfaces of the prism.
8. Observe the changes in the emerged rays of the prism on the wall.
9. Slightly rotate the prism to get a clear image on the wall.

Experiment Observations:

• On the wall, you will observe a band of colors, commonly known as a spectrum. This spectrum is the result of white light being split into its component colors by the prism.
• Yes, you will get a colored image on the wall.
• White light splits into colors because of the phenomenon of dispersion. When white light passes through the prism, different colors are refracted by different amounts due to their different wavelengths, causing them to spread out and form the spectrum.
• The colors you will see in the spectrum are typically violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
• Yes, there will be a noticeable change in the angle of deviation for each color as they have different wavelengths and refractive indices in the prism.
• Violet color will have the minimum deviation.

Precautions:

1. Perform the experiment in a dark room to ensure better visibility of the spectrum.
2. Handle the prism and wooden plank carefully to avoid any damage.
3. Ensure the light source is stable and placed properly behind the hole in the wooden plank.
4. Avoid looking directly at the light source to protect your eyes.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

The experiment demonstrates the dispersion of white light into its component colors by a prism. It teaches that different colors of light have different wavelengths and how the refractive index of the prism causes the light to bend at different angles, resulting in the formation of a spectrum.