The spectrum of white light White light can be split up into a spectrum of colours. White light is made up a range of different wavelengths. Each wavelength is seen as a different colour. As white light enters the prism the different wavelengths all travel at different speeds. This separates the white light into the different colours.
White light is part of a set of waves known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
The other waves are invisible to the eye. They are detected in different ways, using special instruments.