A prism produces how many colors when light is passed through it?

Appeared in: AIIMS Nagpur NO - 2018

Explanation

When white light passes through a prism, it undergoes dispersion, splitting into its constituent colors.
This phenomenon occurs because different colors (wavelengths) of light bend at slightly different angles as they pass through the prism.
The resulting continuous spectrum is conventionally divided into seven distinct colors, commonly remembered by the acronym VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red).

Option A: This is incorrect. The visible spectrum produced by a prism is not conventionally divided into 10 colors.
Option C: This is incorrect. While red, green, and blue (RGB) are the primary additive colors of light used in technologies like screens, a prism separates white light into a broader, seven-color spectrum.
Option D: This is incorrect. There is no standard scientific convention that divides the visible light spectrum into eight colors.

Visual 1: Diagram - An illustration showing a beam of white light entering a triangular prism and dispersing into the seven colors of the VIBGYOR spectrum, with each color ray labeled.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dispersion of light through a prism as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the properties of light is fundamental for technologies used in nursing, such as pulse oximetry, which uses red and infrared light to measure blood oxygen saturation.
Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice utilizes specific wavelengths of blue light to break down bilirubin in the infant's skin.
What if? If a pulse oximeter used only one wavelength of light, it would be unable to differentiate between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, making the measurement of oxygen saturation impossible.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key terms in the question: 'prism', 'light', and 'how many colors'.
Recall the basic physics principle of light dispersion through a prism.
Remember the acronym VIBGYOR or ROYGBIV, which represents the seven colors of the visible spectrum.
Count the letters in the acronym to confirm the number is seven.
Select the option that matches this number.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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