Final answer:
The paths of the rays passing through each prism and out into the air can be determined using the concept of refraction. If the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle, the rays will refract and pass through the prism. If the angle of incidence is equal to or greater than the critical angle, the rays will undergo total internal reflection and stay within the prism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The paths of the rays passing through each prism and out into the air can be determined using the concept of refraction. When a ray of light enters a medium with a different refractive index, it bends or refracts. The amount of bending depends on the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the two media.
If the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle, the ray will refract and pass through the prism. If the angle of incidence is equal to or greater than the critical angle, the ray will undergo total internal reflection and stay within the prism.
In the first prism, the red light ray enters at an angle less than the critical angle, so it refracts and emerges from the prism at an angle determined by Snell's law. The violet light ray, however, enters at an angle greater than the critical angle, so it undergoes total internal reflection and stays within the prism.
In the second prism, the red light ray also enters at an angle less than the critical angle, so it refracts and emerges from the prism. The violet light ray, on the other hand, enters at an angle greater than the critical angle, so it undergoes total internal reflection and stays within the prism.