Principle
In this experiment, the students first review their knowledge of
the dispersion of light by a prism and the reuniting of spectral
colours with the aid of a converging lens. The main emphasis of the
investigations is one the observation of the secondary colours that
arise when individual spectral colours are blocked out of the
spectrum. What should be learnt is that the secondary colour (the
complementary colour) and the blocked out spectral colour, when
recombined, produce white again. As a memory aid for complementary
colours, a simple scheme is given which adequately fits the
findings. The complete Newton colour circle and the findings of
Helmholtz on complementary colours are not gone into here.
This experiment is also to be seen as a foundation for the
understanding of additive and subtractive colour mixing.
Benefits
- Multifunctional light box - All-in-one: Can be used for geometric optics on the table, colour mixing and on an optical bench
- Extension with others sets at anytime, no additional light sources needed, recognition value for students
Tasks
What are complementary colours? Fade out individual colours of
the spectrum from white light and investigate which secondary
colours appear.