DISPERSION OF LIGHT AND

SPECTRUM
• Dispersion of light.
• Dispersion is the splitting of light into seven colours by passing it through
a prism.
• The band of seven colours is called a spectrum
• Dispersion is caused by refraction of light rays at different angles by glass
prism.
Dispersion/ Refraction of white light by glass prism. (ROYGBIV)
• Light rays in a glass prism bend at different angles because they move at a
different speed.
• Dispersion is occurs due to refraction
• The fastest ray bends most (violet) and it has a short wave length.
• The slowest ray bends least.(red) and it has a long wave length.
Diagram to show that dispersion of light
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A spectrum
• A spectrum is a band of seven distinct colours
• The order of the colours of the spectrum from top to bottom is
 Red,
Orange,
yellow,
Green,
Blue,
Indigo,
Violet.
• It can be memorized in the sentence Richard Okello Your Girl Benita Is
Vomiting.
THE RAINBOW
• It is a natural spectrum in the sky.
• It is formed when light rays from the sun are refracted by rain drops.
• The inner colour of the rainbow is violet.
• The outer colour of the rainbow is red.
Diagram to show formation
COLOURS OF LIGHT
Types of colours
Primary colours
Secondary colours.
Complementary colours.
• Primary colors of light are the colours got without mixing any other colour.
• Examples of primary colours.Red, Blue and Green
• Secondary colours are the colours formed by mixing two primary colours.
Examples of secondary colours are Yellow, Magenta and cyan.
i.e. Red + Green = White
- Red + Blue = Magenta
- Blue + Green =Cyan
• Complementary colours. Are the two
colours of light which when mixed give
white light
Examples of complementary colours are
Blue + Yellow = White
Red + Cyan = White
Green + Magenta = White
Red + Green + Black = White light.
Newton colour disc
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Activity 1
• 1. What is dispersion of light?
• 2. Briefly explain what causes dispersion of light?
• 3. What is a light spectrum?
• 4. List down the seven colours of a light spectrum.
• 5. Mention one example of a natural spectrum.
• 6. Draw a diagram showing white light being passed through a glass
prism.
• 7. How is a rainbow formed?
8. Draw a well labeled diagram showing refracted rays
through a glass prism.
9. State two effects on light rays as they pass from a
less optically dense medium to a more optically dense
medium.
10. Cite two effects on light rays as they move from a
more optically dense medium to a less optically dense
medium.
Activity 3
• 1. There are three types of colours. List them down
• 2. What are primary colours?
• 3. Apart from red, list down two other examples of
primary colours .
• 4. What are secondary colours?
• 5. State three examples of secondary colours.
• 6. What are complementary colours?