Dispersion of light
3.2.4What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the dispersion of light as illustrated by the refraction of white light by a glass prism
- Know the traditional seven colours of the visible spectrum in order of frequency and in order of wavelength
Read the notes first
Chapter 3: Dispersion of light
Drill this topic
Every question on Dispersion of light, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
14 questions
1Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Ablue → violet → red → orange → yellow → green
Bgreen → blue → violet → red → orange → yellow
Cred → orange → violet → yellow → green → blue
Dred → orange → yellow → green → blue → violet
Mark scheme
2May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AA prism deviates red light more than it deviates violet light.
BRed light has a lower frequency than violet light.
CRed light has a shorter wavelength than violet light.
DThe speed of red light in a vacuum is less than the speed of violet light in a vacuum.
Mark scheme
3May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AAll the light travels at the same speed in the prism.
BThe light at X has a lower frequency than the light at Y.
CThe light at X refracts more as it leaves the prism than the light at Y.
DThe white light refracts away from the normal as it enters the prism.
Mark scheme
4May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ablue → green → yellow → red
Bblue → green → red → yellow
Cgreen → red → yellow → blue
Dred → yellow → green → blue
Mark scheme
5May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Adispersion only | blue light
Bdispersion and refraction | blue light
Cdispersion and refraction | red light
Drefraction only | red light
Mark scheme
6May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Adispersion only | smaller
Brefraction only | greater
Cdispersion and refraction | smaller
Ddispersion and refraction | greater
Mark scheme
7May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Ablue → green → orange
Bblue → green → yellow
Cgreen → blue → yellow
Dyellow → green → orange
Mark scheme
8Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q26Also set in Oct / Nov 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Agraph of d against frequency: d decreasing as frequency increases from blue to red
Bgraph of d against frequency: d increasing as frequency increases from blue to red
Cgraph of d against frequency: d decreasing as frequency increases from red to blue
Dgraph of d against frequency: d increasing as frequency increases from red to blue
Mark scheme
9May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Ared / violet
Bviolet / red
Cred / violet
Dviolet / red
Mark scheme
10May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Ablue, violet, red, orange, yellow, green
Bgreen, blue, violet, red, orange, yellow
Cred, orange, violet, yellow, green, blue
Dred, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q24Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aslowed down less and refracted less.
Bslowed down less and refracted more.
Cslowed down more and refracted less.
Dslowed down more and refracted more.
Mark scheme
12May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
ABlue light has a smaller frequency than red light.
BBlue light has a longer wavelength than red light.
CBlue light has the same speed in glass as red light.
DBlue light is refracted more by a glass prism than red light.
Mark scheme
13May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
Mark scheme
14Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Alower frequency: blue; longer wavelength: blue
Blower frequency: blue; longer wavelength: yellow
Clower frequency: yellow; longer wavelength: blue
Dlower frequency: yellow; longer wavelength: yellow
Mark scheme