The phenomenon of splitting of white light into the constituent colours on passing through a prism is known as-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Dispersion
The refractive index of glass is slightly different for each colour, so the colours are bent by different amounts. This separation of white light into its constituent colours on passing through a prism is dispersion.
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic was removed from the latest NCERT book (2026-27), but it is still in the CUET 2026 syllabus, so do not skip it.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Dispersion by a Prism – “It has been known for a long time that when a narrow beam of sunlight, usually called white light, is incident on a glass prism, the emergent light is seen to be consisting of several colours. … The phenomenon of splitting of light into its component colours is known as dispersion.”