A beam of light consisting of red, green and blue colours is incident on a right angled prism. The refractive index of the material of the prism for the above red, green and blue wavelengths are 1.39, 1.44 and 1.47 respectively. [figure] The prism will
- not separate the three colours at all
- separate the red colour part from the green and blue colours
- separate the blue colour part from the red and green colours
- separate all the three colours from one another
Answer
(2) separate the red colour part from the green and blue colours
Solution
The rays fall normally on face AB, so they pass into the prism without deviation.
C = 45 ⇒ angle of incidence on face AC = 45 for all three colours
Total internal reflection at AC occurs if 45 > 1 , i.e. > 1 45 = 2 = 1.414
Red: = 1.39 < 1.414 ⇒ red light is refracted out through AC
Green: = 1.44 > 1.414 and Blue: = 1.47 > 1.414 ⇒ both are totally internally reflected
The prism separates the red colour part from the green and blue colours.
Answer: (2)