Differentiate between a glass slab and a glass prism. What happens when a narrow beam of(i) a monochromatic light, and(ii) white light passes through(a)glass slab(b) glass prism


Glass Slab: It is a transparent glass plate in which both reflecting surfaces are rectangular in shape, and are parallel to each other. In the glass slab, the direction of the incident ray and the emergent ray of light are parallel to each other.

Glass Prism:  It is made up of transparent glass plates which have two triangular sides, two inclined rectangular sides, and one rectangular base. In glass prism, the direction of the incident ray and the emergent ray of light is not parallel to each other.

When a narrow beam of monochromatic light passes through:

Glass Slab: It deviates from the actual path but the direction of the incident ray and emergent rays remain parallel to each other.

Glass Prism: It has deviated from the actual path but the direction of the incident ray and emergent ray of light are not parallel to each other.

When a narrow beam of white light passes through:

Glass Slab: The splitting of white light into its constituent colors does not occur. And, the direction of the incident ray and emergent ray of light are parallel to each other.

Glass Prism: The splitting of white light into its constituent seven colors occurs, and the direction of the incident rays and emergent rays are not parallel to each other.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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