Final answer:
White light separates into different colors when passing through a prism due to the phenomenon called dispersion. Different colors have different wavelengths, and their amount of bending or refraction varies based on their wavelength. This separation of colors leads to the formation of a spectrum, such as a rainbow.
Step-by-step explanation:
When white light passes through a prism, it separates into different colors because of a phenomenon called dispersion. Dispersion occurs because different wavelengths of light are refracted (bent) by different amounts as they pass through the prism.
Each color of light has a different wavelength, and the amount of bending or refraction depends on the wavelength of the light. Blue and violet light have shorter wavelengths and are refracted more than red light, which has a longer wavelength.
As a result, the different colors of white light follow slightly different paths through the prism, leading to the separation of colors. This is why we see a spectrum of different colors, like a rainbow, when white light is passed through a prism.