wave dispersion

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wave dispersion Alteration of the refractive index (measurement of bending) of a medium with wavelength, such as light. It occurs with all electromagnetic waves but is most obvious at visible wavelengths, causing light to be separated into its component colours. Dispersion is seen when a beam of light passes through a refracting medium, such as a glass prism, and forms a spectrum. Each colour has a different wavelength, and so the prism bends each colour in the light a different amount. See also refraction