Skip to main content

Refraction and Dispersion

Today, in Malachi, we planned and carried out a fair test, ensuring we only changed one variable. We wanted to see what happened to white light when it was shone on water.

The actual outcome resulted in the light splitting up into the colours of the rainbow (red; orange; yellow etc.). The scientific reason for this result is refraction, where water bends the light that passes through it. As a result of this, dispersion occurs, where white light separates into the different colour that constitute the colour spectrum. This happens as light travels in waves and each colour in different speeds, hence the dispersion (separation) of colours.

No Comments yet!

Your Email address will not be published.