A prism is an optical component composed of a transparent material, often solid glass or crystal, used to manipulate light waves. Its primary function in optics is to exploit the phenomenon of dispersion, which dictates that the refractive index of a material varies depending on the wavelength of light passing through it. When white light enters the prism, different wavelengths—such as red, green, and blue—slow down and bend at slightly different amounts. This differential bending causes the beam of light to exit the prism separated into its constituent colors, forming a spectrum. The precise angular deviation and the extent of this dispersion are determined by the geometry of the prism and the optical density of the material used.