Prism+Explained

Activity B - Observation I

Reflection can be observed by having sunlight enter the flat side of a prism. The two angled sides away from the sun will reflect light. Light doesn't pass through the prism, but is reflected off in two directions. The sunlight entering the prism follows the “law of reflection” when reflecting off the two inside angled surfaces. Since the sunlight hitting the prism is reflected, the transparent prism has a shadow.

The path light travels when reflected as shown above. Activity B - Observation II Refraction can be observed by having sunlight enter the side of a prism. Sun light (white light) contains all the colors of light. A prism refracts each color of light a little differently. Violet light is refracted the most. Red light is refracted the least. The visible spectrum of colors is produced by a prism because each color in sunlight is refracted at a slightly different angle.