What is Prism: Definition and 237 Discussions

An optical prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. At least one surface must be angled — elements with two parallel surfaces are not prisms. The traditional geometrical shape of an optical prism is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use "prism" usually refers to this type. Some types of optical prism are not in fact in the shape of geometric prisms. Prisms can be made from any material that is transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed. Typical materials include glass, acrylic and fluorite.
A dispersive prism can be used to break white light up into its constituent spectral colors (the colors of the rainbow). Furthermore, prisms can be used to reflect light, or to split light into components with different polarizations.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. P

    Index of Refraction in a prism

    Homework Statement The light incident on a 45 degree prism undergoes total internal relfection at point P. What can you conclude about the index of refraction in the prism? (Determine either a minimum or maximum) This is a right triangle, with the two other angles being 45 degrees and...
  2. R

    Calculating Exterior Surface Area of Prism | Complex Maths

    I'm a new student to complex maths & I'm after the formula to calculate the exterior surface area of the prism - see attached diagram. I know formula for a surface area of triangular prism = ab + ph and cylinder = 2pir^2 + 2 pi rh. Don't know where/how to apply formula to half of these...
  3. G

    Calculate the Volume of a Prism with Base Area Bounded by y = x^4 and y = x

    Find the volume of the prism whose base is the area in the xy plane bounded by the curves y = x^4 and y=x and whose top is the surface f(x,y) = x+xy this is what I have so far area of base = \int\ x^4dx - \int\ xdx = $\frac{x^5}{5} - \frac{x^2}{2} + C however I don't...
  4. J

    What Is the Minimum Angle of Incidence for Light to Traverse a 60-Degree Prism?

    Homework Statement Given an apex angle of 60 degrees and an index of refraction of 1.6; what is the smallest angle of incidence for which a ray can enter the left face of a prism and exit the right face? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  5. redtree

    Does gravity function as a lens, a prism or both?

    Does gravity function as a lens, a prism or both?
  6. B

    Calculating the Refraction Angle of a Light Ray Incident on a Prism

    Homework Statement A light ray is incident on a prism whose apex angle is 65.0°. The ray is incident at θa and leaves the prism with θa = θd. The refractive index of the prism glass is 1.54. Calculate θ ans:55.8° Homework Equations n1sin\phi1=n2sin\phi2 The Attempt at a...
  7. Z

    Angle of Light Ray Entry & Exit Through Prism

    Prism Entry and Exit How does the angle at which a ray of light strikes a prism compare with the angle at which it passes out the other side? I think its the same...?
  8. X

    Light refracted trough a prism

    Homework Statement Light is incident along the normal to face AB of a glass prism of refractive index 1.47 Find the alpha max, the largest value of the angle alpha such that no light is refracted out of the prism at face AC if the prism is immersed in air. Homework Equations n1*sin...
  9. R

    Angular dispersion through a prism? Rather

    (a) The index of refraction for violet light in silica flint glass is 1.65, and that for red light is 1.61. What is the angle of deviation for the red ray passing through a prism of apex angle 58.4o if the angle of incidence is 51.4o? Units of o (degrees) (b) What is the angular dispersion of...
  10. J

    How Do You Calculate the Refractive Index of a Prism?

    Refractive Index Problem invloving prism (Please Help) Homework Statement What is given is a prism, angle of deviation and apex angle, I also have to find refractive index of the prism. To solve the problem I must prove that: Nprism = sin((A+d)/2)/ sin(A/2) The diagram given of the...
  11. R

    Light Refracted Through A Prism

    [SOLVED] Light Refracted Through A Prism Homework Statement Two parallel rays enter the longest side of a prism of refractive index 1.52. The prism is isosceles in shape and has angles of 23, 23 and 134 degrees. Assuming that the rays enter the prism on either side of the perpenical divider...
  12. E

    Why Does Blue Light Bend More than Red Light Through a Prism?

    i was just wondering why blue light is bent more than red light when light is passed through a prism. Could someone explain this? Also, when light goes through glass with an index of refraction>1, why is the angle of refraction less than the angle of incidence?
  13. R

    Calculating Rotational Inertia of a Rectangular Prism

    Homework Statement There is a rectangular prism of uniform mass distribution with lengths of a, b, and c (b>a>c). Calculate it's rotational inertia about an axis through one corner and perpendicular to the large faces.Homework Equations I = \int r^2 dm r^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \rho =...
  14. M

    Calculating Water Level Rise in a Triangular Prism

    Homework Statement A triangular prism has end peices in the shape of inverted isosceles traingles with bases 60cm and heights 40 cm . It is 4m long and water is being pumped into it at a rate of 9 L/s. How fast is the level of water rising when the water is 10cm deep. Homework Equations...
  15. B

    The Optimal Prism: Diamond or Glass?

    Which makes a better prism?? Homework Statement Hey guys, I'm helping my girlfriend once again, in physics 101! I'm not used to these "theory" questions...haha Anyways, the question asks:Which would make a better prism, a diamond or glass? I guess, I chose glass...because a diamond...
  16. L

    Question about the dispersion of white light in a prism.

    Hi, I have a question about the dispersion of white light in prism. Why different color of light have different speed in prism ? What properties of light affect its speed ?
  17. H

    Moment of inertia of triangular prism

    Homework Statement Find the moment of inertia of triangular prism (equilateral triangles with side 2a, parallel to xy-plane), mass M. It's centered at the origin with long side parallel to z-axis. Find moment of inertia about the z-axis, and without doing integrals explain two products of...
  18. S

    Rate of Change of Water Level in Triangular Prism

    A trinagular prism is 10 m long and has an equilaterlal trinagle for its base. WAter is added at a rate of 2m^3/min. Determine the rate of change of the water level when the water is \sqrt{3} m deep. ok so the volume of a prism is V = \frac{1}{2} lwh ... (1) l is the length w is the...
  19. L

    Mathematica Mathematical derivation for the minimum deviation angle for a prism

    I am looking for a mathematical derivation for the idea that symmetry of the light beam path through a prism gives rise to a minimum deviation. Thanks.
  20. S

    Can i use a prism to diffract(separate?) ultralight or microwaves

    can i use a prism to diffract(separate?) ultralight or microwaves, if so, how far into the spectrum will it go? for example, when i look at a rainbow, and the rainbow ends after the violet and before the red, does it really end? or am i just unable to see the missing wavelengths?
  21. T

    A shaft of light pass through the prism

    A shaft of light passes through a prism with refracting angle \theta and refractive index n . Let \alpha be the deviation angle of the shaft. Demonstrate that if the shaft of light passes through the prism symetrically the angle \alpha is the least?
  22. C

    Calculating Refraction Angles of Light Through a Prism | Snell's Law | n=1.46

    Light of wavelength 700 nm is incident on the face of a fused quartz prism at an angle of 80.0° (with respect to the normal to the surface). The apex angle of the prism is 60.0°. Use the value of n from Figure 35.20, to calculate the following angles. (a) the angle of refraction at the first...
  23. P

    When bulb light passes through a prism

    When bulb light passes through a prism why doesn't it give different colors? From what I understood about light bulbs, it should give red, orange and yellow as descrete lines. Why doesn't this happens and it goes out of the prism almost as it enters? Thanks
  24. R

    What Makes a Glass Prism Special Than a Glass Slab?

    What is so special about a glass prism that a beam of light disperses after passing through it but not an ordinary cuboidal glass prism?
  25. D

    How Does Light Speed Change in a Prism?

    I think I posted my thread in the wrong section. Hopefully someone can help me get started with this problem please. Thanks a lot. The figure is a right angle triangle with 30-60-90 degree angles (right angle). The glass prism shown has an index of re- fraction that depends on the...
  26. D

    Calculating Speed of Light in Glass Prism

    Hi, could someone please help me get started on this problem. The figure is a right angle triangle with 30-60-90 degree angles (right angle). Can you help, please. Thank you so much. The glass prism shown has an index of re- fraction that depends on the wavelength of the light that enters...
  27. J

    Solving the Prism Mechanics Problem with Lagrangian & Constraints

    If you have two prisms on top of each other, one smaller than the other, and the one on top glids down to the ground the lower prisms moves to the left. The problem is to find how far the lower prism moves. How do you set up the Lagrangian and the constraints for this problem? Any ideas?
  28. T

    How Does a Prism Affect the Angle Between Two Emerging Light Rays?

    A prism shown i has a refractive index of n, and the angles A are theta. Two light rays m and n are parallel as they enter the prism. What is the angle between them after they emerge?(In radians)
  29. A

    How Is the Angle of Deviation Calculated in a Wollaston Prism?

    Hello, I have a question concerning the angle of deviation of the rays that exit out of the wollaston prism. (A wollaston prism is basically composed of two different crystal orientated blocks cemented together, each having a different index of refraction depending on the optical axis) My...
  30. P

    Recangular Prism: Moment Of Inertia

    There is a rectangular prism (L x W x H) = (72 x 36 x 8). The center of mass is 31 inches from one end lengthwise, and centered heightwise and widthwise. I drew an image: http://www.xdemi.com/hovcalc/delirium.bmp Basically, we need the moment of inertia of this object. Two forces are...
  31. K

    Solving Snell's Law: Prism Refraction of 700nm Light

    Light of wavelength 700 nm is incident on the face of a fused quartz prism at an angle of 61.0 degrees (with respect to the normal to the surface). The apex angle of the prism is 60.0 degrees. Using the n value of 1.46, find: (a) the angle of refraction at the surface > I did this and...
  32. J

    How Is the Fresnel Double Prism Equation Derived?

    Hi, i need to deduce the Fresnel Double Prism equation, which states: d = 2a(n-1)alpha, according to the linked image. http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/waves/biprism.gif The distance between the constructed virtual objects S' and S'' is here called d. The distance from the light source to...
  33. C

    What is the Refractive Index for Total Internal Reflection in a 45-45-90 Prism?

    The Question: A 45-45-90 prism is immersed in water. What is the minimum index or fefraction the prism must have if it is to reflect totaly a ray incident normally on one of its faces. Now, we have found this question a bit hard to understand. We assume that light is hitting one of the...
  34. N

    Calculating Torque for a Rectangular Prism Robot

    A robot has a rectangular prism for a body. The body is 10cm high, 2cm wide, 2cm long, has a mass of 1kg and it’s mass is uniformly distributed. An axle bisects the bottom face of the body. On each side of the body is a wheel that rotates on the axle. The wheels have a radius of 1cm and have no...
  35. S

    Solve Angle Between Light Rays After Prism Refraction - Help (with prism)

    Help 34-31. The prism of the figure has a refractive index of 1.48, and the angles A are 30.0°. Two light rays m and n are parallel as they enter the prism. What is the angle between them after they emerge? I. Set the hypotenuse of the small triangle to the left at 10cm. Gives you a triangle...
  36. U

    Measuring the Angle of Refraction in a Triangular Prism Lab

    I did a lab in school where I took a triangular prism and shined light though it. I measured the angle of incidence and angle of refraction for three different angles. The lab question first told me to find the index of refraction of the prism using the two angles. That was easy. The next...
  37. 8

    Unlock the Secrets of Light with These Prism Experiments | Step-by-Step Guide

    You will need: a prism, two 3 x 5 white card or paper, pencil. Use the Sun, or any household light, even Moon reflection ____________________________________________________________________ Test One Step One: stand in area where the background is darker than the paper, and is evenly...
Back
Top