Final answer:
The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source displayed in a range of colors or wavelengths is known as a spectrum, and the effect is caused by the dispersion of light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, ordered by wavelengths, especially the band of colors seen when sunlight is dispersed by a prism, is known as a spectrum. This spectrum includes the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. When white light passes through a prism, a process known as dispersion occurs, whereby light is spread out into its full spectrum of visible wavelengths. Dispersion happens because light changes direction in a way that depends on its wavelength, and this phenomenon is not limited to light, as it can occur with any type of wave.