Experiment 8: light and color, Introduction, The colors of light – PASCO OS-8500 INTRODUCTORY OPTICS SYSTEM User Manual
Page 27: 21 equipment needed, Figure 8.1 equipment setup, Figure 8.2 mixing colored light, Angle of incidence viewing screen
012-02744K
Introductory Optics System
®
21
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
-Optics Bench
-Ray Table and Base
-Component Holder
-Ray Table Component Holder
-Slit Plate
-Slit Mask
-Cylindrical Lens
-Viewing Screen
-Colored Filters (3)
Experiment 8: Light and Color
Figure 8.1 Equipment Setup
Introduction
Early investigators assumed that light, in its purest, simplest form is white; and that refractive
materials alter the characteristics of the white light to create the various colors. Sir Isaac Newton
was the first to show that light, in its simplest form, is colored; and that refractive materials merely
separate the various colors which are the natural constituents of white light. He used this idea to
help explain the colors of objects.
The Colors of Light
Set up the equipment as shown in Figure 8.1, so that a single ray of light passes through the center of
the Ray Table. Slowly rotate the Ray Table to increase the angle of incidence of the light ray.
Examine the refracted ray on the Viewing Screen. Notice the color separation at large angles of
refraction.
Figure 8.2 Mixing Colored Light
Viewing
Screen
Red Filter
Blue/Green Filter
Red
Green
Blue
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
10
20
3
0
40
5
0
60
70
80
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
10
20
3
0
40
5
0
60
70
80
NOR
MAL
NOR
MAL
C
O
M
P
O
N
E
N
T
C
O
M
P
O
N
E
N
T
Angle of
Incidence
Viewing
Screen