The WAVELENGTH of light is associated to its COLOR.

Red light has a LONGER wavelength and violet has a SHORTER wavelength.

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Visible Light in the EM spectrum

White is not actually a specific color - it is made of ALL colors mixed together

A PRISM (a piece of glass or crystal, often triangular in shape) can be used to split a beam of white light into the RAINBOW it is made from through a process called DISPERSION.

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What is the wavelength of white light?

When white light passes through a prism, the different WAVELENGTHS of light that make it up bend slightly different amounts.

The LONGER the wavelength, the LESS the wave bends.

RED bends LESS than VIOLET because it has a LONGER wavelength.

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Dispersion through a prism

​Use the image to color in the dispersion of white light through a prism in your notes.

When light hits a surface it can be:

• REFLECTED - energy of the wave bounces off the material

• ABSORBED - energy of wave is transferred into the material

The color you see comes from the REFLECTED wavelengths of light.

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Why are objects a certain color?

Why are objects a certain color?

​Fill in the table in your notes.

Light vibrates in many directions.

Polarized filters only allow the light through that is vibrating in the desired direction.

The filter in the image has VERTICAL lines. It allows VERTICALLY oriented light to pass through and blocks HORIZONTALLY oriented light.

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Polarization of Light