What is a dispersive medium?

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) dispersive medium is a medium in which the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency. In the context of optics,a dispersive medium is one where the refractive index $n$ varies with the wavelength $\lambda$ of light. As a result,different colors (wavelengths) of light travel at different speeds through the medium,causing them to refract at different angles. $A$ classic example of a dispersive medium is glass or water,which causes white light to split into its constituent colors (dispersion) when passing through a prism.

Explore More

Similar Questions

The deviations caused in red,yellow,and violet colors for a crown glass prism are $2.84^\circ$,$3.28^\circ$,and $3.72^\circ$ respectively. The dispersive power of the prism material is:

Dispersion of light is due to

The property of light that explains the formation of coloured images due to thick lenses is

The splitting of white light into several colours on passing through a glass prism is due to

If the refractive indices of crown glass for red,yellow,and violet colours are $1.5140, 1.5170$,and $1.5318$ respectively,and for flint glass these are $1.6434, 1.6499$,and $1.6852$ respectively,then the dispersive powers for crown and flint glass are respectively:

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo