Question

students in a science class were provided with this image and asked to identify which color of light would refract the most if white light were passed through a prism. which student identifies the correct color of light with the proper reasoning? student 1: red, because it has the highest speed student 4: violet, because it has the highest frequency student 3: violet, because it has the highest speed student 2: red, because it has the highest frequency

Explanation:

In the visible - light spectrum, the speed of all colors of light in a vacuum is the same (the speed of light, \(c\)). The frequency (\(f\)) and wavelength (\(\lambda\)) of light are related by \(c = f\lambda\). Violet light has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum, and since \(c\) is constant, it has the highest frequency. When light passes through a prism, the bending (refraction) is related to the frequency, with higher - frequency light bending more.

Answer:

Student 4: violet, because it has the highest frequency