Read this passage and answer the questions below - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 11 - 2016
Question 11
Read this passage and answer the questions below.
Experimentum crucis
Once he returned to Cambridge from the country in 1667, Newton began to gain honours with sta... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read this passage and answer the questions below - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 11 - 2016
Step 1
What word is used to describe the bending of light by a prism?
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Answer
The word used to describe the bending of light by a prism is refraction. This term defines the change in direction of light when it passes through different mediums.
Step 2
What does the spectrum of light consist of?
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Answer
The spectrum of light consists of a range of colours, specifically seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These colours blend seamlessly into one another, forming a continuous spectrum.
Step 3
Which colour of light is bent the most?
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Answer
The colour of light that is bent the most when passing through a prism is violet. This is due to its shorter wavelength compared to other colours in the spectrum.
Step 4
Draw a diagram to show how a spectrum can be produced using a prism.
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Answer
To illustrate how a spectrum can be produced using a prism, one can draw a diagram showing a light source entering the prism, bending at the surfaces of the prism, and then emerging as a spectrum of colours. Ensure to label the light source, prism, and the spectrum produced.
Step 5
What was the significance of Newton’s experiment?
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Answer
The significance of Newton's experiment lies in its role as a crucial experiment for understanding the nature of light. It demonstrated that white light is composed of different colours and how these colours can be separated. This finding was fundamental in the study of optics and laid the groundwork for future research in light and colour.
Step 6
Without using a prism, how else can a spectrum be produced?
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Answer
A spectrum can also be produced without a prism by using a CD. When light reflects off the surface of the CD, it diffracts to create a rainbow effect, displaying the spectrum of colours.
Step 7
Why is a spectrum not produced by an ordinary block of glass?
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Answer
A spectrum is not produced by an ordinary block of glass because it does not have the appropriate shape or angle to bend the light in such a way that separates it into its component colours. Unlike a prism, which has a precise geometry for refraction, a block of glass does not lead to significant dispersion of light.
Step 8
Name another field of physics for which Newton is famous.
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Another field of physics for which Newton is famous is mechanics, specifically for his laws of motion and universal gravitation. His work in these areas laid the foundation for classical mechanics.
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