Quick Answer:The Newton’s Colour Disc is a 180mm diameter multi-coloured disc on a metal stand, spun by a belt from a hand-driven wheel to show that white light can be made from all the spectral colours.
Last updated: 18 October 2026
Key Features
180mm diameter multi-coloured disc.
Mounted on a metal stand.
Belt drive from a hand-driven wheel.
Demonstrates that white light may be composed from all the spectral colours.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Disc diameter
180mm
Stand
Metal
Drive
Belt from a hand-driven wheel
How It Is Used
Turning the hand wheel spins the disc through the belt drive. As it speeds up the separate colour segments blend together and the disc appears whitish, showing that the spectral colours combine to form white light.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Newton’s Colour Disc driven?
The 180mm diameter disc is mounted on a metal stand and driven by a belt with the help of a hand-driven wheel, so no power supply is needed.