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What’s the difference between refraction of light through a prism and through a glass slab?

By admin on August 15, 2011

Is it correct? Or is there any other difference? I can’t find one!

In case of glass slab, the incident ray emerges parallel to the emergent ray, while in case of prism; the incident ray makes an angle with the emergent ray, i.e. angle of deviation. (so, its not parallel)

Thanks for your help,
em
assuming its not white light, so no dispersion

Posted in | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Responses

2 responses to “What’s the difference between refraction of light through a prism and through a glass slab?”

  1. rex
    rex
    August 15, 2011 at 12:15 pm |

    And the corner of your glass slab is just like having a prism for the light to go through, so it does the same sort of bending there that it does through the prism.

    You sound as if you have the idea fine. There is no difference except for those caused by geometry. The refraction is the same for both.

    Dispersion is the splitting of a light beam ( often white, but not always ) into a spectrum of its component frequencies. Prisms have a better geometry to accomplish this, but glass slabs do produce some dispersion.
    Just in case anyone suggest rainbow formation is a prism based phenomenon.

  2. a
    a
    August 15, 2011 at 12:38 pm |

    in fact there is no diffrence between them but the diffrence is angle of incident.when light emit at 0 degree [to vertical axis] refraction indicies is not important.but when ray with diffrent frequencies emit with j degree each ray with a frequency emerge with diffrent angle because of diffrent inidies

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