Prism -- brightness of a ray of white light as it passes through a prism?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of white light as it passes through a prism, resulting in a spectrum ranging from red to violet. The intensity of this spectrum correlates with the original profile of the white ray, demonstrating the continuity of the spectrum. The impact of glass absorption and scattering on the brightness is acknowledged, but it is deemed negligible in the visible region, where glass exhibits minimal absorption. Overall, the transformation of white light into a spectrum is confirmed as a fundamental optical phenomenon.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of light spectrum and wavelengths
  • Knowledge of optical properties of materials, specifically glass
  • Familiarity with concepts of absorption and scattering in optics
  • Basic principles of refraction and dispersion
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of light refraction and dispersion in optics
  • Explore the effects of different materials on light absorption and scattering
  • Study the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing on visible light wavelengths
  • Investigate the applications of prisms in optical devices and technologies
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Students and professionals in physics, optics researchers, and educators seeking to deepen their understanding of light behavior in prisms and related optical phenomena.

Judoliam
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What happens to the brightness of a ray of white light as it passes through a prism?
 
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Each white ray contain the continuance spectrum with its profile. After it is passed through prism the result is a spectrum from red to violet. This spectrum has a curve, intensity against wave length which is same to white ray profile.
 
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abbas_majidi said:
Each white ray contain the continuance spectrum with its profile. After it is passed through prism the result is a spectrum from red to violet. This spectrum has a curve, intensity against wave length which is same to white ray profile.

Yes, modified by the (wavelength dependent) absorption/scattering in the glass.
 
Yes. good point. Glass absorption also has influence to result, in here it's negligible because in visible region glass have no important absorption.
 
abbas_majidi said:
Yes. good point. Glass absorption also has influence to result, in here it's negligible because in visible region glass have no important absorption.

True enough, the OP did indicate they were talking about white light.
 

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