The mirrors in this case are concave, and are so mounted as to be
capable of being moved in any direction. By directing each of the seven
rays, one by one, upon the same point, you may observe the gradual
decomposition of the coloured light. The effect obtained by adding the
last colour to the mixture is quite magical, the white circle being
produced from two brilliantly-coloured spots.
[Illustration:
Fig. 10.—Recomposition of Light by means of a number of Mirrors.
]
A fifth experiment, first devised by Newton, is also within the reach of
the student. On a disc of cardboard the centre and border of which have
been previously painted black, are pasted seven strips of paper, painted
as nearly as possible of the same colour as the components of the
spectrum—or if the student is anything of an artist he may paint the
disc in imitation of the spectrum, carefully shading off the tints into
each other. If the disc be now rapidly rotated the colours will
disappear, and a greyish hue will be seen, which will approach more
closely to white, the nearer the colours on the disc are to those of the
spectrum. This experiment is not precisely the same in principle as the
preceding ones, for it is evident that the colours on the disc do not
mix, but only the impressions they form upon the retina. We have already
said that such impressions remain on the eye for one-tenth of a second
or there-abouts; the disc must therefore revolve at least ten times a
second, or the effect will not be perceived.
[Illustration:
FIG. 11.—Newton’s Disc.
]
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