Dispersion in diamonds refers to which property?

Dispersion in diamonds refers to which property?

• A. The Density of the Gemstone
• B. The Speed of Light Within the Gemstone
• C. The Separation of White Light into Spectral Colors
• D. The Color of the Gemstone Due to Impurities

Answer: (C)

Dispersion is about white light splitting into its spectral colors as it passes through a transparent gemstone. In a diamond, different wavelengths of light bend by different amounts when entering and exiting the crystal because the refractive index varies with wavelength. This wavelength-dependent bending causes the white light to fan out into a rainbow of colors, giving diamonds their characteristic sparkle and “fire.” It’s not about the stone’s density, nor just the speed of light inside the gem, though that speed is related to how light slows down in the material. And it isn’t about color caused by impurities in the crystal—that impurity color is a separate effect. The giveaway for dispersion is this separation of white light into spectral colors.

Dispersion is about white light splitting into its spectral colors as it passes through a transparent gemstone. In a diamond, different wavelengths of light bend by different amounts when entering and exiting the crystal because the refractive index varies with wavelength. This wavelength-dependent bending causes the white light to fan out into a rainbow of colors, giving diamonds their characteristic sparkle and “fire.” It’s not about the stone’s density, nor just the speed of light inside the gem, though that speed is related to how light slows down in the material. And it isn’t about color caused by impurities in the crystal—that impurity color is a separate effect. The giveaway for dispersion is this separation of white light into spectral colors.