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Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
In the following diagram showing dispersion of white light by a glass prism, the colours 'P' and 'Q' respectively are –
  1. (a) Red and Violet
  2. (b) Violet and Red
  3. (c) Red and Blue
  4. (d) Orange and Green
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 31/6/1 Q13
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:54 · grounding rag
Model Answer

(b) Violet and Red

In dispersion by a prism, violet light bends the most and red light bends the least. The lower ray (P) is deviated more, so P is Violet; the upper ray (Q) is deviated less, so Q is Red.

Source: Light – Reflection and Refraction, Section 10.4 Dispersion of White Light by a Glass Prism

Explanation

The key principle: violet deviates the most → appears at the bottom of the spectrum (lower emergent ray = P); red deviates the least → appears at the top (upper emergent ray = Q). The order from bottom to top is VIBGYOR. Examiners look for correct identification of both colours mapped to their positions in the diagram.

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Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.