Prism: deviation curve and dispersion
Rotate a glass prism and plot the angle of deviation vs angle of incidence: minimum deviation D_m gives μ = sin[(A + D_m)/2]/sin(A/2). White light disperses into a spectrum because μ depends on wavelength (Cauchy).
About this experiment
| Subject | Physics |
|---|---|
| Class | 12 |
| Chapter | 9. Ray Optics and Optical Instruments |
| NCERT section | 9.5 |
| Level | NCERT level |
| Time | about 12 minutes |
| Access | Included in a PractiSci plan |
What you do in the lab
Change the controls and watch the physics behave in real time in 3D. Live readouts and graphs show the numbers behind it, and the Learn tab has the theory, procedure, observations and viva questions. Works on a phone or a laptop, in English and Hindi.
Topics: prism · minimum deviation · dispersion · refractive index · spectrum · Cauchy
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- Concave and convex mirrors: image formation
- Optical fibre: acceptance angle, numerical aperture and dispersion
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