Dispersion

Dispersion refers to the way different components of a wave, like light or sound, spread out or separate as they travel through a medium. For example, when sunlight passes through a prism, it splits into multiple colors because each color travels at a slightly different speed, causing them to spread out into a spectrum. In optics, dispersion explains why lenses and prisms produce colorful effects. Overall, it’s the phenomenon where different wavelengths or parts of a wave change speed or direction differently, leading to separation or spreading during travel.