Final answer:
Dispersion is the term that describes the separation of white light into its component colors when it passes through a prism. This happens due to varying refractive indices for different wavelengths of light, resulting in a spectrum of colors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of breaking white light into its separate colors when it passes through a prism is called dispersion. This occurs because the index of refraction of the prism material varies with the wavelength, causing light of each wavelength to be refracted at slightly different angles. As a result, each color component of the white light takes a slightly different path through the prism, separating into a spectrum from red to violet, where violet light is bent more than red.
Upon exiting the prism, the light is further dispersed, and if projected onto a screen, it displays an array of colors like a rainbow. A device used to project and view this spectrum is known as a spectrometer.