Prism Definition and 240 Threads

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.

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  1. Charles Link

    I On Mixing Colors of Light

    I want to illustrate what the color mixing that is done with a tv screen is all about, and how we can generate the appearance of color using primary colors, even though we don't actually generate any light of the color that we perceive. Consider beginning with a tungsten filament with a...
  2. David_Bee

    B Can a magnifying mirror or prism be used somehow as a low-tech reading aid for the visually impaired?

    The magnifying glass is widely used as a low-tech assistive device for reading by the visually impaired. As magnifying power increases, the lens diameter must decrease, greatly constraining the field of view. But a magnifying mirror achieves high magnification over a broader field of view, and...
  3. D

    I Prism Spectrometer Objective: Optics Question

    I am playing with a basic prism spectrometer for fun, and because a lot of design about these spectrometers has gone to the void over the years. As simple as this system is, my optics knowledge is ancient, and I have, unexpectedly encountered a puzzle. The set up is the following: Linear path...
  4. H

    White light passing through prism

    I don't really have any idea. I know that shorter wavelengths refract more on entry to prism; e.g. ultra-violet refracts more than infra-red, but I don't know why they don't join up again when speeding up on exit from the prism.
  5. PhysicsRock

    Estimating Error in Wavelength from Graphical Approach

    As part of my studies, I'm obliged to take an experimental course at the moment, where I have to conduct experiments and write a composition. Today we examined spectral lines of helium with a prism. As part of the evaluation, I had to plot the measured diffraction angles of different colors /...
  6. L

    B Prism Camera Lens: Expanding Visible Light Spectrum?

    Is it possible to create a lens that expands a narrow range within the visible light spectrum to represent it using full visible spectrum?
  7. orangephysik

    Glass prism and its refractive index

    Hi, I've attached the photo of the diagram, a photo of my drawings on the diagram. for a): Since the prism is an equalateral triangle, all angles inside the prism is 60°. This means the angle adjacent to α is 180° - 60° = 120°, which means the last angle is 180° - 24.5° - 120° = 35.5°. The...
  8. S

    I Query on use of prism in delayed choice quantum eraser experiment

    Hi. I’ve seen a number of schematic diagrams for the Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser experiment. Some include a prism to make the two idler photon paths diverge. However, the prism is shown refracting the ‘idler rays’ in a way which contravenes Snell’s law. E.g. see prism marked ‘PS’ (not the...
  9. Borek

    Or when you look for a clip art of a prism

    splitting white light, and turns out refraction is... complicated
  10. D

    Dispersion diagram of light source seen through prism

    I know that red light has a lower index of refraction than blue light, but that’s not what I’m seeing. The blue light is where the red light should be. I can’t afford to join CHEGG. Any chance that someone would help me out for free? I’d really appreciate it. [Link to chegg removed by the Mentors]
  11. chwala

    Find the surface area of the water in the given prism

    My query in only on the highlighted part...c.ii. Find the question below; Find the markscheme here part c(ii) does not seem correct as i have; ##A_1=0.5 ×(0.65+0.84)0.3 ×2=0.447m^2## ##A_2 = 0.65 ×1.6=1.04m^2## ##A_3 = (0.3146 × 1.6)2=1.00672m^2## Total surface area =...
  12. chwala

    Find the volume of the given prism

    Find the question below; This is a textbook question and i noted that their solution of, $$A=\left[\dfrac{1}{2}×3×4×6\right]cm^3$$ is not correct in my opinion as the base is not a right angle. The base can be analysed as a rhombus and the exercise therefore is to find the related angles and...
  13. A

    B Wavelength of a laser beam emerging from a prism

    Summary:: If you send a laser beam through a prism, can you measure any shift in wavelength at the other side of it? This sounds like a high school experiment and the concept is simple. I feel the laser should emerge monochromatic and at the same wavelength it went in. Do you get this result...
  14. informerkh

    Optical qualities of prism sheet and glass substrate (LCD screen)

    Hi! I am an electronics engineer and I would be very grateful for some help and suggestions with my problem. I am experiencing severe discomfort when working with almost any LCD screen (smartphones, laptops, monitors). Ophthalmologists say that I am completely healthy and they cannot understand...
  15. S

    I Uncertainty and light through a prism

    Hi folks, This is my first post so be gentle :) I've heard the uncertainty principle before - ΔxΔp ≥ ħ/2 I've seen it demonstrated with the single slit experiment where the x position is constrained (measured?). I was wondering what happens when light is split by a prism. Since the wave...
  16. Mr_Allod

    Approximating the Edge of a Lens as a Prism

    Hello there, for part a. of this problem I thought I should try to find the radius of curvature R of the lens using the Lensmaker's Formula. Then it would be quite easy to find the minimum thickness T by just finding the thickness of the circle segment using Pythagoras' Theorem. But part of...
  17. D

    Why is the e-ray sometimes below and sometimes above the o-ray in prisms?

    Snell's law: I am confused why sometimes the e-ray is below and sometimes above the o-ray? how if no>ne and how to
  18. F

    B Does the prism equation (i+e = A+δ) apply to all prisms?

    Does prism equation (i+e = A+δ) apply to all prims, equilateral and right angled? And does it fail for normal incidence on a prism? For eg. when light is incident normally on one of the sides of an equilateral prism, it deviates the light through 60°. i+e = 0. A+δ = 60+60 = 120°.
  19. VVS2000

    Refractive index of a prism using a spectrometer

    In the image attached, How is it that the angle shown is 2A? And what exactly is the position of min deviation? Why does it have to be in the given position as shown? Thanks in advance!
  20. jisbon

    Light rays passing through a glass prism

    Hi all! Breaking down the question bit by bit: AC is coated with a silver film which acts as a mirror - Okay, nothing as of yet right..? A light beam is an incident onto prism at Point Q such that angle PQB is 40 degrees - This means that my incident angle is 50 degrees as shown below...
  21. N

    Searching for Raman Prism: Is It Real?

    I have been unable to find any material pertaining to Raman prism. Does such a thing even exist?
  22. B

    How does the surface of a refracting prism become reflective?

    In my physics lab, we placed a mirror in front of a telescope with built in crosshairs and crosshairs that were shining out the front of the telescope which reflected against the mirror and allowed us to see them and then adjust the level of the telescope until the two were aligned. Later we had...
  23. B

    How does the surface of a refracting prism become reflective?

    Homework Statement: How does the surface of a refracting prism become reflective? Homework Equations: None In my physics lab, we placed a mirror in front of a telescope with built in crosshairs and crosshairs that were shining out the front of the telescope which reflected against the mirror...
  24. B

    Jenkins-White Optics: Relation between Prism/Deviation Angle and Rays

    I've tried to attempt the first part of the problem(spent over an hour on this) as second part could be easily optained with some calculus ,I asked my friend but alas nobody could conjure the solution to this dangerous trigonometric spell. It was just pages and pages of concoction of...
  25. D

    I Some redshift from prism effect of a gravitational lens?

    A quick search turned up Simaciu, Ion. (1997). Chromatic aberration of gravitational lens. 10.13140/2.1.1133.6003. The math is beyond me so I first made a basic assumption that chromatic aberration of gravitational lenses worked somewhat analogous to a prism in that red is bent less than other...
  26. Mcp

    Why is a Hexagonal Prism Used as the Unit Cell for 3D HCP?

    My textbook states that all the 14 bravais lattices have one of the 7 types of parallelepiped (7 crystal systems) that can be used as an unit cell. However in case of 3D HCP textbooks don't talk about this parallelepiped, rather they consider a hexagonal prism as the unit cell. Why is it so...
  27. CivilSigma

    Finding the volume of an oblique prism

    The expected shape of the deflected roof will look like a pyramid with a water height of 'h'. I am having a hard time to find the a formula for the new shape. Can some one provide me some guidance please, will I have to use calculus to find the volume for this particular shape?
  28. navneet9431

    B Prism Forming Image: Nature & Types

    Do Prism form image? If they do form image, then what is the nature of the image formed?
  29. H

    Why do higher frequency light waves bend more in a prism?

    For example, why does blue light refract more than red light in a prism?
  30. Dipra Irham

    Why Does a Prism Periscope Focus Light Instead of Scattering It?

    a prism is supposed to scatter light rays and separate it into rainbow,then why in a prism periscope the prism send light rays to a particular direction instead of scattering?
  31. N

    What is the Origin of the Term 'Prism'?

    Hello respected physics experts, I want to ask why prism is called prism. Can you explain please? Thanks.
  32. S

    How do I find refractive index uncertainties?

    I've been doing an experiment where I've used prisms and a spectrometer to find the exact angles inside the prisms and the refractive index of the prisms by finding the minimum angle of deviation. I have attached a picture of the formula I've been using to find the refractive indices. Where...
  33. J

    Three principal axis moments of inertia for hexagonal prism?

    Homework Statement I'm trying to figure out the mass moments of inertia for a hexagonal prism, with the z-axis being longitudinal. I'm trying to recall my calc 3 from 2 years ago and am failing miserably. I know the height of the prism is h. Each hexagonal side is length a. The prism has...
  34. Sheldon11

    B Why do we have minimum deviation of a prism?

    Why do we have minimum deviation of prism? physical explanation is needed!
  35. HastiM

    I Achromatic prism: Why subtract both angles of deflection?

    Hello, suppose we are given an achromatic prism consisting of two triangular prisms put together as it is shown on this webpage: http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age16-19/Optics/Refraction/text/Achromatic_prisms_and_lenses/index.html Imagine a light beam is send through the prism. My book claims...
  36. I

    I Width of Spectrum produced by a prism?

    How to calculate the width of spectrum produced by a dispersive prism of a given apex angle and refractive index, of white light of given width incident on first face of prism?
  37. M

    MHB Dimensions of a rectangular prism

    The volume of a rectangular prism can be represented by the polynomial V(x)=2x^2+9x^2+4x-15 a. The depth of the tank is (x-1) feet. The length is 13 feet. Assume the length is the greatest dimension. Which linear factor represents the 13 ft?This is probably a really easy question but I am so...
  38. K_Physics

    Relative Intensity of Various Light Sources - Lab Experiment

    Homework Statement I've linked my data table down below. My problem is the relative intensity column. From the table, the units of relative intensity are w/m/s. I'm assuming this is power/velocity, where velocity is the speed of light. However, nowhere in the lab manual did it mention the...
  39. ISamson

    Spectrum of Chemical with a Glass Prism

    Hello, I was wondering if it is possible to make a definite clear spectrum of a chemical using a glass prism. I have one at home and no matter how hard I try to get an emission or absorption spectrum, it just does not turn out. Can you help? Do I need to focus the light into one point or such...
  40. A

    Directing sunlight into the optical fiber

    Hello Is it possible to direct sunlight into the optical fiber by magnifying glass and a prism like the image below? if yes , what shape of prism should i use to do this? Thank you
  41. G

    Lens engineering for virtual reality

    What type of lens/prism would be needed to allow a image sensor to see 180 degrees, so the sensor could see a hemisphere. It doesn't matter if the input is distorted. I thought that a glass pyramid with a square base might work.
  42. C

    I Minimum deviation in prism spectroscope

    Suppose that I use a prism (vertex angle ##\alpha##) spectroscope to analyze a beam of visible light from a mercury lamp (different wavelenghts) and I want the determine the refraction index of the prism using the minmum deviation angles ##D_{min}##...
  43. 6

    MHB Therefore, the volume of the rectangular prism is 84 units cubed.

    What is the answer to this question. The surface area of a rectangular prism is 136 square units. Some edge measurements are 6 and 2.What is the volume?
  44. Q

    Angular spread of light rays passing through a prism

    Homework Statement The problem asks: The index of refraction for violet light in silica flint glass is 1.66, and the index of refraction for red light is 1.62. What is the angular spread of visible light passing through a prism of apex angle 60 degrees if the angle of incidence is 50.03...
  45. Tspirit

    I A question on dispersion of Prism

    As the Figure shown, a white light beam is dispersed by the prism. The refracted beams will have different directions. My question is, will their reverse extension lines intersect into one point, or not? If it will, where is the point? And the proof? Thanks a lot.
  46. Y

    Need some help with forces on a dangling prism Internal Assessment

    Homework Statement I made an apparatus of a rectangular prism dangling from a vertical string from one side while the other is touching the ground. The relationship I'am trying to find is between the angle of the prism relative to the ground and the normal force exerted up wards. I am stuck on...
  47. Q

    B Rectangular Prism out of different shapes?

    Is it possible to create a rectangular prism while using only one prism and without repeating any two shapes?
  48. Chirag Gupta

    Angle of Deviation in a Glass Triangular Prism Experiment

    In an experiment to trace the path of a ray of light through triangular glass prism. Can the angle of deviation be zero? Why?
  49. S

    Possible Wavelength Difference Between Two Rays Passing Through a Prism?

    Homework Statement The two rays shown below, a and b, have different wavelengths. They travel through the glass prism as shown; 1) is this possible? 2) If this is possible, which has the longer wavelength, ray a or ray b? [see attached figure] Homework Equations λ = λi/n critical angle =...
  50. J

    MHB The Symmetry Group of a Hexagonal Prism and Orthogonal Matrices

    For part (a) we have 6 rotations, 3 reflections, 1 inversion, and 2 improper rotations, determined by the determinant and trace of the given matrix. We can take K to be the group of 3 rotations and 3 reflections, which is a Normal subgroup since it has index 2. We can take J to be the group...
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