1/8/09

Post date: Jan 08, 2009 2:28:16 PM

Bell Activity:

• • Light dispersion

    • The index of refraction is slightly different for different colors

    • When different colors enter a new material (white light consists of all visible colors mixed together), they are refracted at different angles

    • This causes the colors to spread out, producing a rainbow of colors

    • Happens with prisms, water droplets

  • Diamonds

    • Very high index of refraction means a smaller critical angle, or LOTS of internal reflection

    • When white light enters a diamond, the light is dispersed (colors spread out).

    • The separated colors bounce around inside the diamond many times (internal reflection) before exiting, giving the colors more space to spread out.

    • This gives diamonds the "fire" we see, or the many different colors coming from a diamond's facets

  • Diffraction

    • Two-slit interference

      • Light goes through two openings, very near to each other

      • Light spreads out from each opening in all directions

      • The light from the first opening interferes with the light from the second opening, creating a pattern of bright and dark spots.