Newton: white light as a mixture of differently refracted rays

What changed

Selection with a second prism and recomposition organize white sunlight as a mixture with differing refractive behavior, instead of colours generated solely by the first prism.

Scientific scope

Selection with a second prism and recomposition organize white sunlight as a mixture with differing refractive behavior, instead of colours generated solely by the first prism. The target is the 1672 letter's prism selection and recomposition evidence, based on experiments reported as begun in 1666. Its historical statements about all colours, all materials and impossible lens correction are not adopted as modern universal laws. This does not establish corpuscular light, all colour perception or the later full Opticks program.

Evidence

Source-linked, scoped account of the original work. The published scope states the scientific assumptions and remaining verification limits. WRS has not independently certified the full proof, experimental result or system benchmark.

Contributors

• Isaac Newton · SCIENCE: Original source-listed scientific author of this scoped work; byline does not determine effort fractions.

• Isaac Newton, A Letter ... containing his New Theory about Light and Colors, Philosophical Transactions 80 (19 February 1671/2), 3075–3087; Newton Project transcription

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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