What phenomenon occurs when white light passes through a prism?

When white light passes through a prism, the phenomenon that occurs is called dispersion. Dispersion happens because different wavelengths of light are bent by different amounts when they enter and exit the prism. This bending of light, or refraction, separates the white light into its constituent colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet — which can be seen as a spectrum.

While refraction is involved in the process since the light is bending as it moves through the prism, it is specifically the separation of colors that is referred to as dispersion. Therefore, dispersion is the most accurate term to describe the outcome of white light passing through a prism, making it the correct answer.