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Isaac Newton, Natural Philosopher

 

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The year is 1670.  In the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Newton has just published a series of  trials involving the use of prisms and rays of light.   One partciular trial, number 44, would be the subject of further debate.   Dubbed the experimentum crucis, or crucial experiment, it claims to demonstrate the immutability of colored rays of light.  In other words, not only is white light made up of constituent 'colored rays', but these rays can be refracted out with the use of a suitable prism.  A second refraction of such a pure ray, Newton claims, introduces no further color differentiation.  Put simply, a 'pure' ray will remain the same colour when refracted through a second prism.

You are to attempt this experiment and report back your findings and results to the Royal Society.  

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