Choose: 1 for dots, 2 for waves See speed changes within prism (clearest with dots) Choose 0 to just adjust "width" of light beam
Prism bends lights of different frequencies differently. Inside glass of Prism: Violet slows most and bends most Red slows least and bends least Violet normally has the highest frequency (and shortest wavelength) but slows most within the glass. Higher frequencies bend more because their corresponding shorter wavelengths have more speed change in the prism glass compared to longer wavelengths. Red has the lowest frequency (longest wavelength) and and bends least in the glass. Trying to show these speed change differences starkly with dots (light is actually electromagnetic wave). In technical terms, this "dispersion" is due to the "refractive" index of the prism glass varying with light wavelength. Higher frequency light bends more than lower frequency light. When light passes from one medium to another (like from air to a prism glass), it changes speed. This change in speed causes the light to bend, which is called refraction.
