PURPOSE: To separate white light into its component colors with a prism
and use an identical prism to recombine the light.
DESCRIPTION: Use a single slit baffle and a convex lens to limit the size
of the ray. The single ray is passed through a prism which separates the light into its
component colors, which can be cast onto a white surface. Placing a second identical prism
in the beam in the opposite orientation recombines the colors into a white light spot and
directs the light in a ray parallel to the original ray.
EQUIPMENT: Optical board with single slit baffle and convex lens, two
equilateral prisms.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.