Prisms are something often come across in school, whether that’s in the maths or physics department. A prism is solid object with two identical ends and flat sides. The shape of the ends give the prism a name, such as the triangular prism in this photo. The thing that makes this prism so special, is actually the physics behind the shape. A prism like this works because as light passes through the prism, it slows and due to the differences in the refraction index between the air and the glass, light bends once entering the prism. This separates light into different wavelengths, forming a rainbow of colours. The separation of visible light into its different colours is known as dispersion, which is what creates the eye catching rainbow display showcased in this photo.
