Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 9: Problem 52

Would a prism made of diamond be better at dispersing light than one made of glass? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Yes, a prism made of diamond would be better at dispersing light than one made of glass due to its higher refractive index (2.42) compared to glass (1.5 - 1.9). The higher refractive index leads to better dispersion properties and a more colorful separation of light into its individual colors.

Step by step solution

01

1. Research the refractive indices of diamond and glass

First, we need to find out the refractive indices of diamond and glass. We can look this up in a reference book or search online. The average refractive index of diamond is around 2.42, while for glass, it is typically between 1.5 and 1.9.
02

2. Compare the values of the refractive indices

Now that we know the refractive index values for diamond and glass, we can compare them. When comparing the values, we can see that the refractive index of diamond (2.42) is significantly higher than that of glass (1.5 - 1.9).
03

3. Analyze the relationship between refractive index and dispersion

Since the refractive index of a material determines how much light is bent and, consequently, how much it is dispersed into different colors, a higher refractive index indicates better dispersion properties. In this case, diamond's higher refractive index means that it will be better at dispersing light than glass.
04

4. Final conclusion

Given the higher refractive index of diamond compared to glass, we can conclude that a prism made of diamond would indeed be better at dispersing light than one made of glass. The higher the refractive index, the greater the dispersion, which leads to a more colorful and more extensive separation of light into its individual colors.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

The law of reflection establishes a definite relationship between the angle of incidence of a light ray striking the boundary between two media and its angle of reflection. Describe this relationship.

Suppose a \(20-\mathrm{m}\) long tube is filled with benzene and the ends sealed off with thin disks of glass. If pulses of red and blue light are admitted simultaneously at one end of the tube, will they emerge from the opposite end together, that is, at the same time? If not, which pulse will arrive at the far end of the tube first? Why?

You get a new pair of sunglasses as a birthday gift from a friend. When wrapping the present, your friend has removed the price tag and all the other labels from the sunglasses. How can you tell whether the pair of shades has polarizing lenses in them or not?

Distinguish converging lenses from diverging lenses, and give examples of each type.

A piece of glass is immersed in water. If a light ray enters the glass from the water with an angle of incidence greater than zero, in which direction is the ray bent?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Astrophysics

Read Explanation

Radiation

Read Explanation

Force

Read Explanation

Electricity

Read Explanation

Atoms and Radioactivity

Read Explanation

Rotational Dynamics

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free