Explain Lucca's observation that violet light refracts the most while red light refracts the least.Refer to the properties of light in your response.
Question
Explain Lucca's observation that violet light refracts the most while red light refracts the least.
Refer to the properties of light in your response.
Solution
Lucca's observation is based on the principle of light refraction and the concept of optical dispersion. Here's a step-by-step explanation:
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Refraction: This is the bending of light when it passes from one medium to another (like from air to water). The degree of bending or refraction depends on the speed at which light travels in the two media. Light travels slower in denser media, causing it to bend more.
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Dispersion: This is the phenomenon where light is split into its constituent colors when refracted. The different colors of light have different wavelengths, and hence, they travel at different speeds in a medium other than air.
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Violet light has the shortest wavelength among visible light and hence, it travels slower in a medium other than air. This causes it to refract or bend more than other colors.
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On the other hand, red light has the longest wavelength among visible light. It travels faster in a medium other than air, causing it to refract or bend less than other colors.
So, Lucca's observation that violet light refracts the most while red light refracts the least is due to the differences in the speeds at which these colors of light travel in a medium other than air, which is a result of their different wavelengths. This is a demonstration of the principle of optical dispersion.
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