Light through a Prism, I don't get it.

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Patassa

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Ok I think not only is TBR not telling me the whole story but neither is my calculus based physics textbook. No derivation, no numbers, just "generally, the index of refraction of a given medium is greater for a shorter wavelength." I'm over here trying to make physical sense of this with numbers and it's not working out. Anyone got this down cold? Memorizing physics is like sh*ting the bed to me, I'd rather not do it if I don't have to.


Edit, Quantum mechanics may hold the answer here.

time of absorption = (Energy of photon / Material's absorption rate) so higher E=hf, longer it takes for the photons be be absorbed, the longer it takes for them to get back out = greater bending. Hence why blue bends more than red. (this equation is from Chap 39 "Photons and Matter Waves", Haliday Resnick Walker Physics text)

Hope this helps someone else, this was a 2 hour derailment.

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