What colors of light are refracted from least to most through a prism?

• A. Red, Yellow, Green, Blue
• B. Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue
• C. Red, Blue, Yellow, Green
• D. Red, Yellow, Green, Violet

Answer: (A)

Light refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another, changing its speed and direction. The extent of this bending depends on the wavelength of the light; shorter wavelengths are refracted more than longer wavelengths.

In the context of visible light, red light has the longest wavelength and is refracted the least when passing through a prism. As you move towards shorter wavelengths, the colors transition through the spectrum, with violet light having the shortest wavelength and being refracted the most.

The sequence of colors from least refracted to most refracted is red (least refracted), yellow, green, and then blue (most refracted). This is why the arrangement of red, yellow, green, and blue is correct—because it accurately represents how light is bent through a prism, demonstrating the principle that red light is refracted the least while blue light is refracted the most.

This knowledge forms the basis of understanding how prisms separate white light into its constituent colors, supporting the correct answer. The other options either misplace the order or include colors that do not align with the proper refractive characteristics of light.