In which direction will a prism bend light?

A prism bends light based on its geometric shape, specifically its angles and the direction of the light entering it. When light passes through a prism, it changes speed as it moves from one medium (air) into another (glass), causing it to bend. The critical aspect of how a prism functions involves the concept of refraction.

In the case of a prism, the light bends towards the base. When light enters the prism at an angle, it slows down and bends nearer to the normal line at the first surface and then bends again as it exits the other side. The bending effect depends on the refractive index of the material that the prism is made from compared to air.

When considering the orientation of a prism, the broader side is referred to as the base, while the point where the two angles meet is called the apex. Therefore, when light enters the prism, it approaches the apex and bends towards the base as it exits, leading to the phenomenon of dispersion for white light, which separates into different colors.

Understanding that light bends towards the base is crucial in optics, as it illustrates the behavior of light in relation to different materials and their boundaries.