Final answer:
A prism can separate the colors of white light (dispersion) because different frequencies of light have different refractive indices for a given material.
Step-by-step explanation:
A prism can separate the colors of white light (dispersion) because different frequencies of light have different refractive indices for a given material. When white light enters a prism, it undergoes refraction, which causes the different colors to bend at different angles. This occurs because the index of refraction varies slightly with wavelength. The colors with shorter wavelengths (like blue and violet) are bent more than the colors with longer wavelengths (like red and orange). This phenomenon is called dispersion, and it explains why we see a rainbow-like spectrum of colors when light passes through a prism.